Exciting Big Bore Diesel Aero Engine Still Emerging

The Graflight V8 diesel engine from EPS is coming, though the company says that the engine will certify in 2018, about a year later than it had originally planned. The program delay was the result, says CEO and co-founder Michael Fuchs, of software development complexities that he says are a function of the engine being almost entirely computer controlled and monitored. The end, Fuchs says, is in sight, and he expressed confidence that the company would earn certification for the engine this year.

Courtesy of EPS

The Graflight engine is a 320-420-hp purpose-built clean-sheet design that EPS targets for installation in both existing and new production aircraft. The company has yet to announce first customers or STC targets, but given the horsepower range of the engine, what we're guessing is probably what you're guessing too. The cost of the engine is a wild card right now, and EPS has yet to name a figure, but given that the prototype engine was flown in a Cirrus SR22, it's safe to assume it will be priced to be competitive within the high-performance single and light twin markets.

Learn more at EPS.