Here in the states the farmers get a tax break on diesel fuel so

we see a few of them flying turbo prop airplanes.

The end cost of diesel fuel here in the US including tax is about

the same as gasoline so people prefer quiet, non smelly gas
powered cars.

In November you should drive the CDI Liberty (diesel) - it has been sold
for years in the EU. You will find your views on the diesel to be 20 years
out of date. The PT diesel is also sold there, but will not be sold here
until the Liberty's ( < $1000 option) diesel engine is accepted here (it
is quite, very fast, and not smelly).

When I look at the chart, I only see the smaller difference of diesel BSFC
VS. petrol to be at 100% power. When I look at the levels I cruise at (70%
- 80%) there is a real advantage of a diesel.

One factor lost in this discussion seems to be what race drivers have
known for a while - high compression = higher hp / displacement.

-dave

Hardly.
I have driven diesel cars in the EU and I am not impressed.
In general diesel engines generate less HP per cubic inch.
More torque but less HP. Airplanes fly on HP and not torque.
As Bombardier says "Do you want to tow or do you want to go?

OK cruising at 70% power.  Sure maybe ten percent less
fuel burn. Are you willing to carry 100 pounds less weight in
the airplane or 100 pounds less fuel? So far in fifty years
there have been no major break through in diesel engines.
The BSFC is pretty much what it was fifty years ago.
I can name at least three diesel aircraft engines that
have failed to come to market in the last six years.
The Zoche, the Continental and the GA-AD. The two that
are still around, the Delta Hawk and the Renault have 
yet to ship in significant quantites despite being at 
OSH for the last four years or so.

You mean when I drive up in a Liberty to the diesel pump at the gas 
station the fuel coming out of the nozzle stops stinking? :) Just joking.

Paul Lamar
 
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