Quote:
Originally Posted by ngb1066
Walter - The 235HP SMA diesel engine seems to have been operated successfully in the Cessna 182, so presumably the two problems you mention must have been addressed in some way. Do you have any further information on this?
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"Seems" is the operative word in your post. The prop issue has been marginally addressed but the cooling drag issue has not been addressed at all. It's that pesky physics. For this reason, the BSFC(min) on the installation is nowhere close to the claimed number. The claimed BSFC of about .33 on a diesel is closer to .37 when the cooling drag is added in.
In my educated opinion, diesels will not offer the answer until and unless there is a serious breakthrough in combustion technology. That breakthrough is nowhere in sight on the horizon since the physics of chemical reactions is not likely to change. There will be, however, dozens of people/companies/concerns which will continue to try to make this happen for many years before finally admitting that diesels are covered by the laws of physics.