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15-04-2004, 01:08am
Howdy Ressac, I did actually post a reply yesterday, but it never made it thru to here. Was using a work computer without my user name in it so..... don't know?!
I am actually quitting both of my jobs to go over to France for about 4-6 weeks of Diesel Engine training. I have been chasing this job up for the last year with some long hours put into it. Gambling a lot of money and career jobs on leaving for a course. The actual course is run by a company called SMA (Renault, Snecma and other leading F1 Technology and high-tech companies also involved). They are beginning to produce 'diesel' powered engines into aircraft, that will retro-fit into most AVGAS piston powered aircraft. I will be going to attend a course on the technical aspects of fitting and the principles associated with newer computer technology of modern diesel engines.
I don't know what you know about general aviation (the small aeroplanes of upto 20 seaters that we refer to as 'Bug Smashers') but basically without boring you, there is going to be a big change in the future for AVGAS users. AVGAS is leaded fuel, which is now on its way out in the automotive industries. Racing clubs are also finding it hard to get. You'll find it will be banned at most race meets soon, unless for special reasons. I used to run all my vehicles on AVGAS, but gone are those days, especially when the cops book you for it! Soon it will become extinct from aviation use all together due to environmental demands and negative impacts. So..............what are all the piston engine powered aircraft going to run on???? (Can't run on water - we're in a Drought, can't run on Air - too polluted in Melbourne, and can't run on gas - Coode Island / Longford plant too unreliable with explosions !!!! )
Basically, there is only 1 company that produces TEL (Tetra Ethyl Lead) for leaded AVGAS fuel in the world. If that company stopped, well about 7000 small aircraft in Australia and shit loads world-wide would be grounded. Millions out of work litterally! Apparently, Europe have laws that prohibit use of AVGAS for commercial use after 2007, and in OZ after 2015, due pollution controls. Because ordinary unleaded fuel is shit and freezes and gums up at altitude in flight, it is mostly useless. The only type fuel that is so readily available and becoming cheaper and easier to use is JET-A1 (kerosene, also referred to as Diesel). JET-A1 is fuel that your typical Boeing jet and helicopter uses. The world advertises these new engines as 'diesel' powered because they use all the principles, but are air-cooled instead of water-cooled, and are capable of running on well refined Diesel. Diesel fuel in Europe is so well refined and clean, thats why half their cars are diesel, but Australia has shitty diesel, but is getting better as time goes on. Won't go into the specs. The engines won't become popular into outback aircraft just yet until we can recieve cleaner diesel, so that farmers can just top up a quick 1000 litres into their aircraft, whilst filling the CAT bull-dozer.
These new 'diesel' powered aircraft will be much safer with only 1 power lever instead of 3-4 like older technology aircraft (throttle (manifold), pitch (RPM), mixture, and carburetor heat/alternate air). The fuel range will also be 1.4-1.8 times greater with longer flight times. Fuel burn will reduce from 38L/per hour down to 20L/per hour for a small single engine powered aircraft, and cockpit computers will let you know of faults, much like modern cars! Monkeys could be pilots soon... !!!! The 230hp and 300hp versions are all 4-cylinder turbo-charged powerplants.
TO ALL THE BUSA LOVERS, there could well be a diesel powered bike coming out in the near future due to newer technology and limited fuel resourses. I'm tipping 8 years before someone has one fitted to a motorbike for experimental purposes! ........Who loves that smell of burnt jet fuel ?? Well, if you want it now, just buy the Y2K bike!! Could be on my Busa soon.......
Cheers, Peter (Pierre)
I am actually quitting both of my jobs to go over to France for about 4-6 weeks of Diesel Engine training. I have been chasing this job up for the last year with some long hours put into it. Gambling a lot of money and career jobs on leaving for a course. The actual course is run by a company called SMA (Renault, Snecma and other leading F1 Technology and high-tech companies also involved). They are beginning to produce 'diesel' powered engines into aircraft, that will retro-fit into most AVGAS piston powered aircraft. I will be going to attend a course on the technical aspects of fitting and the principles associated with newer computer technology of modern diesel engines.
I don't know what you know about general aviation (the small aeroplanes of upto 20 seaters that we refer to as 'Bug Smashers') but basically without boring you, there is going to be a big change in the future for AVGAS users. AVGAS is leaded fuel, which is now on its way out in the automotive industries. Racing clubs are also finding it hard to get. You'll find it will be banned at most race meets soon, unless for special reasons. I used to run all my vehicles on AVGAS, but gone are those days, especially when the cops book you for it! Soon it will become extinct from aviation use all together due to environmental demands and negative impacts. So..............what are all the piston engine powered aircraft going to run on???? (Can't run on water - we're in a Drought, can't run on Air - too polluted in Melbourne, and can't run on gas - Coode Island / Longford plant too unreliable with explosions !!!! )
Basically, there is only 1 company that produces TEL (Tetra Ethyl Lead) for leaded AVGAS fuel in the world. If that company stopped, well about 7000 small aircraft in Australia and shit loads world-wide would be grounded. Millions out of work litterally! Apparently, Europe have laws that prohibit use of AVGAS for commercial use after 2007, and in OZ after 2015, due pollution controls. Because ordinary unleaded fuel is shit and freezes and gums up at altitude in flight, it is mostly useless. The only type fuel that is so readily available and becoming cheaper and easier to use is JET-A1 (kerosene, also referred to as Diesel). JET-A1 is fuel that your typical Boeing jet and helicopter uses. The world advertises these new engines as 'diesel' powered because they use all the principles, but are air-cooled instead of water-cooled, and are capable of running on well refined Diesel. Diesel fuel in Europe is so well refined and clean, thats why half their cars are diesel, but Australia has shitty diesel, but is getting better as time goes on. Won't go into the specs. The engines won't become popular into outback aircraft just yet until we can recieve cleaner diesel, so that farmers can just top up a quick 1000 litres into their aircraft, whilst filling the CAT bull-dozer.
These new 'diesel' powered aircraft will be much safer with only 1 power lever instead of 3-4 like older technology aircraft (throttle (manifold), pitch (RPM), mixture, and carburetor heat/alternate air). The fuel range will also be 1.4-1.8 times greater with longer flight times. Fuel burn will reduce from 38L/per hour down to 20L/per hour for a small single engine powered aircraft, and cockpit computers will let you know of faults, much like modern cars! Monkeys could be pilots soon... !!!! The 230hp and 300hp versions are all 4-cylinder turbo-charged powerplants.
TO ALL THE BUSA LOVERS, there could well be a diesel powered bike coming out in the near future due to newer technology and limited fuel resourses. I'm tipping 8 years before someone has one fitted to a motorbike for experimental purposes! ........Who loves that smell of burnt jet fuel ?? Well, if you want it now, just buy the Y2K bike!! Could be on my Busa soon.......
Cheers, Peter (Pierre)