Fuel economy in the air (diesel airplanes?)

[Big Dave]

Engineers play with them in Europe but US certification is a horrendously expensive process. The volume of sales (light planes start a a quarter mill) doesn't justify millions of dollars for Part 23 certification.

Google "Junkers Jumo 205" Opposed piston diesels. They ran on kerosene to avoid gelling. They were used on a variety of aircrat, includin high altitude reco planes and the"Hindenberg."

All things old are new again.

[The Atomic Ass]

Originally Posted by Christ

(I'm terrible at bookmarking anything I read, if you can't tell)

Let me help you with that...

Delicious

[Big Dave]

A German company called Zoche has been diddling around with a small (150 HP) radial diesel for light planes for over a decade and is getting nowhere against the US regulatory apparatus.

[Big Dave]

Here's Zoche.

zoche aero-diesels homepage

Over the years their 150 HP three cylinder became a four and their 300 HP engine went from a seven to an eight cylinder. Plus they added a two-cylinder with less power. Their site does not claim a Part 23 certification.