Simviation Forums

Is there any interest in Jet A civil dieselization?  If so, I'm in the process of developing a diesel for private aviation sims that use piston engines in FS9.  I have more tweeking to do but I just finished a flight using the Lake250 as a testbed, and went from Key West to Southern Maine @ 25,000 feet in about 8 hours -- NON-STOP.  If there's interest, I'll put together several partial files which can be cut and pasted to any FS aircraft config file -- one for a Cessna 172/Maule, the Lake 250, and others for prototype diesels under development for GA community.
  I'd just like to know if there's interest.
  John Murphy

There is always interest in new ideas John. I personally was trying to make a diesel "effect" engine by playing around with the fuel flow in the aircraft.cfg but couldn't get the consistency I wanted. Please tell us more!

There is always interest in new ideas John. I personally was trying to make a diesel "effect" engine by playing around with the fuel flow in the aircraft.cfg but couldn't get the consistency I wanted. Please tell us more!

Ozzy, first, a diesel doesn't use spark to ignite fuel, so you can't just fiddle w/fuel flow and get diesel;
 2nd, the aircraft diesels don't use manual prop pitch -- this gives more thrust for the buck, MUCH higher rates of climb -- I read that a dieselized Maule has a rate of climb of over 3,000 fpm at sea level, and like a jet engine the higher the altitude, the better the performance.  On my little 8 hour flight, Airspeed indicated ~ 125 kts, but true was closer to 180 kts, and that's just adjusting major engine factors.  I think I might be able to get even more range on 90 gals of Jet A.
 Only 2 "bad" things are:  Jet A weighs more than Avgas -- but with smaller fuel tanks (60 gals?) that shouldn't be a factor; Other "bad" thing is that a diesel gulps air like a jet, so unless designers modify the mdl files with much larger air intakes on cowlings, the planes won't look right....
  Files will follow in several weeks or a month.
  For now, happy flying!
  John Murphy

There is always interest in new ideas John. I personally was trying to make a diesel "effect" engine by playing around with the fuel flow in the aircraft.cfg but couldn't get the consistency I wanted. Please tell us more!

Ozzy, first, a diesel doesn't use spark to ignite fuel, so you can't just fiddle w/fuel flow and get diesel;

Dieselization update:

I've now gotten the FS9 default Cessna 172 Dieseled.  As is, I put a Herzog 2-bladed constant speed prop mated to the Diesel Engine as per prototype, but I have some tweaking and repainting to do.  I've also redesigned the 2-D panel to let it have readable gauges AND radios.  Progress reports as they come up.  So far, both the Lake SeaFury AND the new Cessna 172 Diesel climb like homesick angels and sip Jet A fuel like a fine wine.  Both probably have at least 1/3rd more range than their Avgas counterparts.

John Murphy

I know John, I conducted a lot of experiments using the aircraft.cfg trying to make things work the way they should but I couldn't crack it!
I can't wait to see the results of your labours

I'm really intrigued by JetA diesels in GA  :)

It's gonna be a tricky to replicate it in the current cfg...

As far as I know, MSFS only allows for fixed pitch and constant-speed props (where the pilot controls the prop rpm).

With popularity of this FADEC engine/prop manager (our club's Lberty XL2 has it), I can see where we'll need a way to model it in the sim.

Right now.. I'd imagine that limiting engine RPM and tinkering with the prop's thrust scalar is the best we can do...

[quote]I'm really intrigued by JetA diesels in GA

Excellent !  I'll be waiting to try them out  

I just spent an enjoyable test flight of the Dieselized default Cessna 172.  Bird went from Key West, Fl straight to New Orleans, LA in 4 hours with ~ 9 gallons of Jet A in reserve.  She flies at ~ 100 knots and I had her up to 20,000 feet for most of the flight, and at altitudes of 5,000 feet, the range would probably be a gut-busting 8-10 hours.
  Still have to upgrade guages to Dieselization.
  The cut-and-paste file will be either 100, 150, 250, or 300 hp, but both birds perform up to specs, or as close as I can get them.
   Am working as fast as I can, and as soon as I can, I'll upload the first -- a reworked Cessna 172....
   John Murphy  

Can't wait, but fair warning... I'll be tough on it come testing time..  :)

[quote]Can't wait, but fair warning... I'll be tough on it come testing time..

Tough but fair    

All I'd really scrutinize is the performance at different altitudes, and corresponding fuel-flow... If it looks good, I'll make some gauges for it..

I've got about 1100 hours in C172s  About 300 in high-performance Cessnas (C182, C210, C206, C207) and over 200 in C177RGs..  And a mixed bag of; Saratoga, Mooney201, Warrior, Arrow time... and my twin time is in C310s, and a Senneca..

[quote]Tough but fair

[quote]I just spent an enjoyable test flight of the Dieselized default Cessna 172.