Anyone running a pre 1970s car will know the vapour lock and boiling carb problems of using modern unleaded mogas with 5% (soon to be 10%!) ethanol. The D-Motor appears to be designed to use such fuels, and does away with carb heat as well. So why do I have mixed feelings about this splendid new motor?
Perhaps it's an age thing, but I have always flown behind a motor that will keep running so long as it has fuel. Loss of electrics in an aircraft with magneto ignition and pressure instruments is a non event.
However a failed generator drive belt in a modern glass cockpit D-Motored aircraft (with high pressure electric fuel pump & ECU plus Electronic ignition) will quickly result in loss of the engine and next to no instruments ... an interesting forced landing situation!
For sure modern car alternators and engine ECUs are very reliable, and proper maintenance makes a drive belt failure and associated battery failure unlikely. So what's my problem?
Well we can't keep reinventing / improving the wheel indefinitely ... sooner or later progress to something better must come ... if only to avoid boredom. Surely that better thing is diesel power, and in particular the Weslake Aero Diesel. Exceptional economy, full power at altitude, no valves, no spark plugs, no carb heat, good power/weight, etc.
But for me the bottom line is ....If you have ever seen the sad remains of a light aircraft that has crashed and burnt you will know where I am coming from. Diesel is inherently safer than petrol ... try standing in a pool of diesel and then a pool of petrol while throwing lighted matches!
I look forward to the next progress report on the Weslake diesel
![Smile :)](./images/smilies/icon_smile.gif)