A DEFINITE future exists for air-cooled, four-stroke aircraft diesel engines in the 400 to 600-hp class; the aircraft diesel is at least on a basis of parity with the gasoline aircraft engine in the 1000-hp water-cooled and liquid-cooled high-performance class and since the diesel can be conveniently fitted with a turbo-supercharger, there are definite advantages to be derived from the use of a two-stroke diesel of proved worth. These conclusions, made by Mr. Wilkinson, are based on comparative tables presented in this paper.
The author, who last year visited diesel aircraft centers in France, Germany, England, and the United States, opens his paper by commenting on modern diesel-powered airplanes being flown in these countries.
In reviewing the advantages of diesel aircraft engines, he groups them as: economic advantages such as reduced fire hazard, low fuel operating costs, and large payload and flight-range possibilities; and mechanical advantages, such as reliability and efficiency.
