yeah, you shoulda seen me reading you owned an F16...
sssuuuuuuuurrrre.

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1985 300SD
1998 Jetta TDI
Previous: lots of diesel VW's, MB's, KW's, Pete, Freightliner


Walking isn't a lost art: one must, by some means, get to the garage.

By the way, Texas froze over this year! Week before the Super Bowl, even down here near Corpus Christi we had lows in the 20's for almost a week in Feb. Not a rated pilot, but an A&P/IA for over 33 years and I run waste turbine fuel in my S350. Diesel and Turbine come off at about the same place in the refining process, though most all diesel in the US is imported from Europe. Turbine fuel has a higher sulphur content and lower BTU content than diesel. It destroys the O2 sensors in the new Powerstroke Diesels designed for ULSD (or so I've heard) and does not work well in newer rotary injecttion pumps. As far as diesel powered aircraft engines, they are designed to use Jet A/A1. I don't think they will ever become a viable alternative in General Aviation due to the cost of Cetification, which is why a Diesel powered Maule ( one of my favorite airframes) costs a quater million bucks. Not bad for an 80,000.00 airplane
Wayne

"though most all diesel in the US is imported from Europe."

HUH????????

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1985 300SD
1998 Jetta TDI
Previous: lots of diesel VW's, MB's, KW's, Pete, Freightliner


Walking isn't a lost art: one must, by some means, get to the garage.

I thought you would enjoy this: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Daimler-Benz_DB_602

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Providing a home for these cars:
1951 Buick Special De Luxe
1977 Rolls-Royce Silver Wraith II
1970 Rolls-Royce Silver Shadow
1986 Mercedes-Benz 420 SEL
2005 Mercedes-Benz E 320 CDI
2012 GMC Sierra 1500 4X4
1927 Pierce-Arrow Series 80
1931 Pierce-Arrow Series 43
1926 Ford Model T coupe

wow... that's a big engine. i would like to hear it run...
r

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1985 300SD
1998 Jetta TDI
Previous: lots of diesel VW's, MB's, KW's, Pete, Freightliner


Walking isn't a lost art: one must, by some means, get to the garage.

wow, that's a BIG 602!!! nearly 1400HP... kewl!

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John HAUL AWAY, OR CRUSHED CARS!!! HELP ME keep the cars out of the crusher! A/C Thread
"as I ride with my a/c on... I have fond memories of sweaty oily saturdays and spewing R12 into the air. THANKS for all you do!

My drivers:
1987 190D 2.5Turbo
1987 190D 2.5Turbo
1987 190D 2.5-5SPEED!!!

1987 300TD
1987 300TD
1994GMC 2500 6.5Turbo truck... I had to put the ladder somewhere!

I have been flying professionally for the last 5 years. I managed a flight school, worked as a support pilot for Diamond Aircraft (flew about 150 hours in the diesel powered DA42), and worked for Mooney Aircraft.

Still a low time pilot at 2200 hours, but I learn something every time I take off.

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1984 300D 193.5k miles
ASTM-certified B100 bio when able

Roundout,
I love the idea of the diesel planes, but I don't know if they will ever be "mainstream".
My FBO said yesterday they will probably quit selling 100LL because of the capital money it ties up with the prices so high.
If you want a cheaper place to have a flight school location, lemme know.
r

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1985 300SD
1998 Jetta TDI
Previous: lots of diesel VW's, MB's, KW's, Pete, Freightliner


Walking isn't a lost art: one must, by some means, get to the garage.

Haven't the mfg's been working on "auto" gas certified engines? Thought I read something about that. Allows cheaper auto gasoline to be used instead of AV gas. Hearing local pilot "talk", it was discussed diesel powered aircraft would have a hard time with FAA cert due to the lack of a redundant ignition system. Either way I think it would be a good way to go. Of course carry over some auto technology by upping the compression ratios, efi, turbos, and some other goodies might help with economy. Imagine an ECU running in a "cruise" mode controlling your mixture and prop pitch for that perfect lean of peak low rpm cruise speed.

I'm an A&P but I don't have a pilots license. I'm not crazy!

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'70 F100 shortbed
'82 Diesel Westy
'83 Euro 300TD
Curtlo Viper
Yeti ARC
Surly long haul trucker

A fair number of planes have STCs to run on automotive gas. One complicating factor is gasoline/ethanol blends are not approved for flight, and the farm lobby has seen to it that unblended gas is hard to find in many areas.

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1981 Mercedes 300TD, 1994 Honda Civic Del Sol
http://mefi.us/images/fuelly/smallsig-us/67195.pnghttp://mefi.us/images/fuelly/smallsig-us/103885.png

I trust then that you (and your SD) are taking good care of all the "Contaminated" Jet-A1 from Maintenance Shops on the Airport?

Cosworth Engineering UK (Formula One Engine Manufacturers) have long had visions of a Diesel Aero Engine for Light and Ultra-Light Aircraft. Recently they have won a contract to develop a Diesel UAV Engine for the US Navy that may be available eventually for Light Airplanes if successful.
http://www.flightglobal.com/articles/2009/08/14/331028/cosworth-uav-engine-for-us-navy-starts-bench-testing.html

I run a 210 RG.

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Beagle

Why would an engine that requires no ignition system need redundancy?

In this country, no one has a pilots license. The FAA doesn't issue licenses, they issue certificates.

The way it was explained to me was that dual igntions provided a back up if there was a failure and the engine quit. If an an injection pump or injector failed you don't have a back up. As for ethanol free gas, it becoming much more available, just not in NJ. The boating indusrty has put major pressure in the right places to force this.