Is a diesel engine (eg. Thielert Centurion 4.0 at 350 bhp) being discussed as an option for a Cirrus? Plane & Pilot’s December 2005 issue had a great article on Thielert engines.
Thanks.
In reply to:
Is a diesel engine (eg. Thielert Centurion 4.0 at 350 bhp) being discussed as an option for a Cirrus?
Klapmeiers have been quoted as saying that they have looked at it (they actually field-tested an SMA diesel installation, but it didn’t work out), but it is too heavy for the current airframe (something like 150-200lb heavier than the current engine if I remember correctly.
There are also problems with cold weather air restarts.
Those turbo diesels are really deep breathers (like 85 inches of mercury manifild pressure IIRC) and an air restart at thin altitudes in cold temps is very challenging.
Personally I’d love to see diesel engines in aircraft but as Alan K has said, they’re jsut not really ready for prime time in the Cirrus …yet.
As for the weight issue. I am just wondering aloud about manufacturing them out of titatium alloys? They charge sooooo much for airplane engines anyways and so little is actually the cost of raw material that I can’t see the incremental cost being that significant.
Diamond continues to have problems getting their DA42 diesel up to a satisfactory performance—but they are learning! Some day they will be here.
Thanks for the feedback. I was not aware of these limitations (eg. re-start in flight, weight). I’m hopeful that general aviation will have other engine and fuel options in the not too distant future.