Spend even a few minutes comparing the operation of an avgas-powered engine to a diesel—also known as a compression-ignition engine or a jet-A power plant—and a number of diesel benefits jump right out. Diesel engines don’t have spark plugs, and demand no magnetos. Jet-A-burning piston engines are water-cooled too, meaning they’re less susceptible to overheating on the ground or during climb-out. Better efficiency translates into 30 to 35 percent better fuel economy with a jet-A power plant. Avgas availability isn’t much of an issue here in the United States, but we live in a fuel bubble because 100LL isn’t all that easy to come by in other parts of the world. In a Flying story five years ago, Stephen Pope summed up the jet-A power debate: “They’re more efficient, run on cheaper fuel, and the EPA isn’t threatening to regulate them out of existence. With so much going for them, are jet-fuel-burning diesels ready to take over?” Whether a jet-A-powered piston engine actually makes good sense depends quite a bit upon who you ask. It also hinges on the specific problems a jet-A power plant is being asked to solve: save on fuel costs, increase range, reduce maintenance expenses or some combination of all three. What we can say for certain is that today, the options to install jet-A piston engines in an avgas airplane are closer to becoming a reality than five years ago, although the movement is certainly not a groundswell … at least not yet.
Inside the Diesel Revolution
Key Takeaways:
- Jet-A diesel aircraft engines offer significant benefits, including 30-35% better fuel efficiency, broader global fuel availability at lower costs, simpler operation with FADEC, and reduced maintenance compared to avgas engines.
- While widely adopted in international markets due to avgas scarcity and high prices, the transition to jet-A diesels in the U.S. is slower due to the current availability and affordability of 100LL, alongside high initial conversion costs.
- Despite past skepticism and initial hurdles, major manufacturers like Continental and new entrants like EPS and DeltaHawk are advancing jet-A engine technology, with a potential EPA mandate to phase out leaded avgas expected to be the primary catalyst for widespread U.S. adoption.
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