Flat 4 or 6 cyl Aircraft Engine

[leeschaumberg]

Building a sell able diesel aircraft engine in the USA can be very cheap and easy if the designer is smart. One must keep in mind not to try to reinvent the wheel. The need for a high rpm engine (gear reducer) is not needed or wanted. The crankcase can be CNC machined out of billet aluminum. Crank, rods, piston, cylinders, and valves have been designed and proven.
The ideal engine would be liquid cooled, turbocharged, intercooled and no bigger and heavier than the original o360 or o540 engine. This way the engine could retrofit many aircraft out there. Durability is a prime concern of any aircraft engine. Easy service and a good warranty would make it a hit with A&P mechanics.
So how about this for engine specs to compare to the Lycoming o360.
Horsepower - 200 normalized to 18,000 feet.
Size - 33.4 inches wide
Warranty - 3000 hours plus
Cost to Service - Oil, filter, valves, and inspect (3 hours)
Constant Speed Prop - Yes
Purchase Price - Cheaper than the Lycoming
Control - One lever control
Instrumentaion - Dual

I have the knowledge to design not the money to build and sell these engines. My time could be traded for not paid for.
I am an instrument rated com pilot.
I know how to effectively and cheaply promote a new product.
If this information interests you please call or write me at
Lee Schaumberg
6972 Orchard Ln
Appt 5B
Three Lakes , Wi 54562 715-546-3907

[TSwezey]

Didn't anyone tell you that only air cooled aircraft engines will work in an airplane!

[leeschaumberg]

So you have an air cooled V8. Must be unique.

[dhammer]

I guess we are a whole country of dummy's not to have done this already. Is there something about being an instrument rated commercial pilot that would make anyone want to invest many millions to get something like this into production for such a small market? If it's such a great concept then go to one of the engine OEM's. I'm sure they don't have the internal smarts to make something new that is commercially viable.

[leeschaumberg]

Millions aren't needed and NOBODY builds a diesel aircraft engine except the bankrupt folks in Germany!

[JHines]

Isn't the Zoche air-cooled engine a Diesel? It's radial, but looks pretty compact.

[RVbySDI]

Originally Posted by leeschaumberg

Millions aren't needed and NOBODY builds a diesel aircraft engine except the bankrupt folks in Germany!

I myself love the idea of a new alternative to the existing choices of aircraft engines. However, the idea of investing in a business that faces some very formidable risks would not be for me. To follow such an example as this reputable German company down the same road that could very easily, within a few months or a couple of years, bankrupt a company, does not make me feel all warm and fuzzy about wanting to jump into investing in the production of a new design of anything.

Quite frankly, I am bumfuzzled how anyone could stomach the ridiculous risks that would have to be faced to make a success out of designing, building, manufacturing, marketing, selling any new design in today's environment of lawsuit happy people. The second one is successful at anything, there are those who will try everything in their power to get "someone to hand them millions of dollars". They could care less how much effort had to go into making that new "whatever" work. So, at the expense of the hard working individuals who had a good idea and tried to make something positive happen they think they can live the easy life.

Well, my .02 on investing in a new idea even if I think it is a worthwhile idea.

Live Long and Prosper!

[leeschaumberg]

The Brits do have an aircraft diesel but I have never seen one and don't need to. The engine configuration is not the well balanced flat four. NOBODY in this country has ever built a piston aircraft diesel engine to sell. Because LL100 is so cheap now JP4 could be a better alternative. Not wanting to discuss the whys and whos I won't. I have never called any one a dummy and don't intend to. The price of setting up for manufacture is well less than 1/4 million dollars.

[Mike S]

Originally Posted by leeschaumberg

The Brits do have an aircraft diesel (Zoche)

Pretty sure that is German.

[SvingenB]

Originally Posted by leeschaumberg

The Brits do have an aircraft diesel but I have never seen one and don't need to. The engine configuration is not the well balanced flat four. NOBODY in this country has ever built a piston aircraft diesel engine to sell. Because LL100 is so cheap now JP4 could be a better alternative. Not wanting to discuss the whys and whos I won't. I have never called any one a dummy and don't intend to. The price of setting up for manufacture is well less than 1/4 million dollars.

The Wilksch are 3 and 4 cylinders two stroke diesels, and perfectly balanced, at least the 4 cylinder. A flat 4 - 2 stroke will also be balanced, but there will be two cylinders fireing at once, a V4 - 2 stroke is probably better, but not as good as a straight 4 ?? hmmm