Don't everyone start yelling at me all at once but, any thoughts on using an alternative engine like the Subaru (subaruaircraft.com) in an experimental type PA-12??
Yes, in fact I have thought about installing a Thielert Diesel engine. Cheap fuel, miserly fuel flow. Only trouble is the engine is so (%)¤/% expensive.
Yes, I know about that one. In fact, I flew it for an hour after last year's Sun-N-Fun. The Murphy Moose is a very nice airplane to fly. Very solid, hauls an awsome load. The engine is virtually bulletproof and not very difficult to operate. There is a link to a very informative article on the MP14 from Murphy's web site www.murphyair.com
The Thielert diesel engine is a converted Mercedes turbo diesel, which has been certified by JAR as well as FAA. It is being built into PA28s and C172s over here. It generates much interest because 100LL is so expensive (approx. $4.00/gal) as opposed to JET A1. Also, the fuel consumption is quite low at approx. 16 liters (4 gal) per hour. Furthermore, the diesel is more effective at altitude due to the high compression. Food for thought.
The engine weights approximately 475 LBS (223.6 Kg.) without oil, but with accessories. It is approximately 620 cubic inches and rated at a CONTINUOUS horsepower of 300 and as they call it "emergency" or "take off" horsepower of 350 for a 30 minute duration. The M14P engine, even though it is rated at 360 HP, according to it's specs, is 360 HP ONLY for a maximum of 5 minutes.
I got to do some flying behind a new M14PF (400 hp) over the weekend, I'm still grinning. Lot's of yippee in a little package. The high output supercharger takes a little getting used to when it kicks in, (lots of left rudder, and hang on tight), very nice.
Gee thats a toughie!! Lets see now, put a quality overhauled Lycoming in and fly it for about 3000 hours if you take care of it properly, or put some other engine in and experiment every time you go up ---Hmmmm I'm still trying to decide. Naw
i agree with BES. The Thielert / Centurion 1.7 would be perfect for the Cub. It weights about the same as an O-320 but has a static Thrust equal to an O-360 because of the high tourque and the big diameter CS Prop. Especially for europe and scandinavia a diesel/jet fuel engine would be great because of the high fuel prices for avgas over here.
Furthermore as the Thiehlert is a turbodiesel the engine could be very interesting for "hot and high" purposes. You have all the horses all the way up!
But i guess the investment for the development of a SuperCub/Thielert Conversion Kit with certification will be so high that this solution will not be here too fast...
i just read in a magazine about a cub with a 200HP turbine from "affordable turbine power". It was presented in Oskosh. 170 lbs dry weight, 10 G/h fuel flow, 5000 TBO, 7.500 $ overhaul costs. But the turbine costs 30000 $!
I now these diesels, but i think the thielert/centurion is the most promising right now. It's the only diesel wich is already FAA and JAA certified. 50 pcs. are already flying in regular certified planes. The SMA Diesel is also certified but is not yet flying in a production aircraft. It also doesn't fit the cub, way too heavy. I think Cirrus is planning a SR21tdi model with the SMA 230hp diesel engine for europe.
Thats what keeps the plane sales in europe currently down.....everybody is waiting for the new diesel engines.