The Turbo Diesel Reaches For the Skies

And grabs it none too soon.

Wayne Gerdes - CleanMPG - Aug 13, 2014



First production Cessna Turbo Skylane 182 JT-A goes wheels up for the first time.



In late May, Cessna announced the first production flight of its Turbo Skylane 182 JT-A. What was different is that this plane has the distinction of being the first modern single engine aircraft powered by a turbo diesel engine specifically designed to run on Jet-A fuel.



Avgas is typically used to fuel most single engine aircraft, but the fuel is becoming scarce, expensive, and even unavailable in many parts of the world. With the advent of a single engine craft designed to run on the much more common Jet-A fuel, operators can now access many more parts of the world without worrying about the unpredictable availability and price of increasingly scarce avgas.



Jeff Umscheid, business leader for the Cessna 172, 182 and 206 model aircraft:

Quote:

“This is groundbreaking in that it is the first aircraft powered by a diesel engine specifically designed for aviation. Being able to find much less expensive fuel and available anywhere in the world and it’s not difficult to see why the JT-A is the future.”

The Safran-made SMA engine in the Turbo Skylane JT-A is engineered specifically for aviation. It uses only 11 gallons per hour of the typically lower-cost Jet-A fuel at the estimated maximum cruise speed of 156 knots. The 227 hp engine will offer customers increased range or payload capacity without sacrificing performance. Flight at the maximum cruise speed demonstrates greater fuel efficiency, and it is expected to burn approximately “30 percent to 40 percent less fuel” than power comparable avgas engines.

Turbo Skylane JT-A – A Turbo Diesel’s First Flight

The Turbo Skylane JT-A has a fuel capacity is 87 gallons.



Diesel for Small Aviation



With several major aircraft and engine manufacturers recently announcing the development of new diesel aircraft engines like the Cessna Turbo Skylane 182 JT-A shown above, the small general aviation industry is entering a new diesel evolution phase.



In just the past month, aircraft and engine manufacturers including Cessna, Continental, American Champion Aircraft, Lycoming and DeltaHawk Engines have announced new diesels for general aviation aircraft in the U.S. And is it not about time?



Allen Schaeffer, Exec Director of the Diesel Technology Forum:

Quote:

“Some are suggesting the increased fuel efficiency and lead-free emissions from new diesel engines may be the biggest change in light aircraft engines in many years!”

Along with market share increases for Diesel in the automotive marketplace, the aviation industry will experience the same benefits including more accessible fuel, far better efficiency leading into drastically improved range, and possibly even better performance over gasoline fueled aircraft!



Yeah, we know the drill. Just wish it did not take so damn long. :(

The Turbo Diesel Reaches For the Skies