Quote:
Originally Posted by dave lukins
Gau..What are the cost comparisons of running either engine, what about running (fuel)cost. Do you see a future in the "new" engines?
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Hi Dave,
With the price of avgas going up (and possibly going away), it might be too soon to say. There are not enough airframes out there now to do an apple to apple comparison.
I read an in depth consumer report on the DA42 recently. (At this time the only production, state-of-the-art, aerodynamically cutting edge craft sporting diesels). Nice bird and she sips fuel, but she's slow and can't carry much. At what is normally the overhaul mark on an avgas engine (TBO), you send the engines on the DA42 back to the factory and
buy new ones. So while you're cruising along at 120 kts, sipping fuel and saving money, the huge cost of buying two new engines is looming on the horizon. I'd like to see the numbers per hour in fuel savings compared to how much you will have to put aside per hour for the new engines at the end of their service limit.
I do see a future for these diesels. There is a huge market for these retrofit engines. Owners of older light aircraft will be faced with paying more and more for avgas or changing over to diesel. Once retrofitted, I'm guessing these older, less aerodynamic airframes will deliver lower performance numbers than with their original power plants.
On the other hand: With small jet engines becoming cheaper and small jet aircraft (VLJs), hitting the market, the age of the prop may be in its twilight.
I apologize for not being able to answer your cost question.
I'm afraid that answer still up in the air. (Guffaw, yuk, yuk).