Jpharstrider
New member
There are a lot of good swaps on this forum but a VW TDI into an airplane just may be the best yet. We need to really ramp up this effort in the US! The gasoline engines from Lycoming/Continental and all others are essentially garbage. Inefficient, outdated, rough running, and many more unsavory adjectives could be used to describe them. I've been all over these pages now and eventhough we are diesel fanatics I still see people saying "diesel's can't power airplanes, diesels are too heavy, too underpowered, just stick with the gasoline offerings, bla bla bla." IMO diesels and diesel/electric are the future of all transport be it on the ground, water, or in the air! Furthermore here is the proof of just what that little TDI 4 cyclinder can do!
The first one is a Cessna in Europe re-powered by an ALH. (youtube cessna diesel to find it if the link doesn't work)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mgI4vJZZv48&feature=BFa&list=UL78zz1cpVnZg&lf=mfu_in_order
The second is a BEW PD powered conquest out of S. America. (youtube Diesel Conquest)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HeBZ0bj7QS0
These aren't the only ones - another fellow from Finland was featured in an aviation mag (I believe someone might have posted it to the forum) a few years back with an ALH powered kit aircraft. He flew the entire length of Finland without re-fueling! He had approx. 17 hrs flight time available on a tank of fuel. That's more than my C-130 and we carry 62K of fuel!
Truly inspiring stuff!
I have been planning a similar project for some time now (though still a couple years out from build time) with a 2.0 CR TDI in a Zenith CH801.
The VW TDI should be the engine of choice for all GA/Kit Aircraft up to 225-250HP. VW could take over the aviation engine market as well as the auto industry!
Who else is doing this? Pass the word and post the videos!! Let's drive a stake through the heart of 100LL and gasoline for good!!
The first one is a Cessna in Europe re-powered by an ALH. (youtube cessna diesel to find it if the link doesn't work)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mgI4vJZZv48&feature=BFa&list=UL78zz1cpVnZg&lf=mfu_in_order
The second is a BEW PD powered conquest out of S. America. (youtube Diesel Conquest)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HeBZ0bj7QS0
These aren't the only ones - another fellow from Finland was featured in an aviation mag (I believe someone might have posted it to the forum) a few years back with an ALH powered kit aircraft. He flew the entire length of Finland without re-fueling! He had approx. 17 hrs flight time available on a tank of fuel. That's more than my C-130 and we carry 62K of fuel!
Truly inspiring stuff!
I have been planning a similar project for some time now (though still a couple years out from build time) with a 2.0 CR TDI in a Zenith CH801.
The VW TDI should be the engine of choice for all GA/Kit Aircraft up to 225-250HP. VW could take over the aviation engine market as well as the auto industry!
Who else is doing this? Pass the word and post the videos!! Let's drive a stake through the heart of 100LL and gasoline for good!!