Just started construction of a BD-4 from plans. This is a fast airplane. I
have been looking very seriously at the Mazda engine for some time. The
engine builder for Tracy Crook believes he can get a very reliable 220 hp
out of the new Renesis engine.
The reason I was looking into the VW is that I would like to get better fuel
economy and more power would not be bad either. When I saw the power
ratings on this engine and found that it is all aluminum I thought that it
may make a good aircraft engine. VW diesel engines have proven to be very
reliable in the past although producing a lot of vibration. From what I
read on this engine the vibration may no longer be a problem as they are now
using a balance shaft (90 degree V10 is not naturally balanced). And being
a V10 5.0 liter engine should run very smooth. Another interesting feature
that I would like to investigate about this engine is that since it is
controlled by direct injection and has no manifold vacuum to work with, it
has an air pump for other controls (emission controls) that may be used for
a vacuum pump (for gyro instruments).
Overall it just looks like a very good candidate for a high performance
aircraft engine. And if this could be done without gear reduction may save
some money (and another possible failure point).
"Pete Schaefer" wrote in message
news:KNXic.34118$w96.2428876@attbi_s54...
I'm curious as to what kind of airframe you're considering putting
something
like this in? Something fast, I'd assume. Also, something non-aerobatic.
Some kind of fast cruiser?
You might want to contact some people at VW to see if you can get some
detailed info on the engine. It could very well turn out that it would
make
a great airplane engine, but there are a ton of unknowns at this point.
How
would you go about examining the suitability of the engine for aviation
use?
You're looking at a very non-trivial problem. Better know how to speak
some
German, too.
I've watched the Mazda B13 thing closely over the last couple of years.
There are some interesting possibilities there, but none of the good
options
look very cheap. You'll still spend a lot of time wringing the engine out
on the ground before you can gain enough confidence that you've done all
your homework. Granted, doing a homebuilt, you'll spend a bunch of your
time doing engine integration no matter what. Just gotta make sure to
have
a sound approach to engine risk-reduction if you're going a non-standard
route. That means knowing the risks and being able to plan for them.
BTW: This summer, I'm starting work on an RV-8A. I'm tentatively
penciling
in a DeltaHawk 180HP inverted V-4. I'm encouraged by their progress over
the last year. However, I won't hesitate to change my plans if some big
gotchas emerge with their design. Their first production run starts soon.
I figure they get to have two more years of maturity on the design before
I
order mine. It's gonna cost a bunch, but I feel there is a resonably
controllable risk factor going with an engine that new.
"Bryan" wrote in message
...
Good points! I have no idea how to find out what the continuous rated
power
would be on this engine. I would love to have a DeltaHawk engine but as
you
put it, I do not have a ton of money. I was leaning heavily toward the
Mazda rotary, looks like the way to as there are many flying already and
components are available.
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