AirVenture Update: Gemini Diesel Engine

In aviation journalism one never knows with any certainty what topics will capture — and keep — the readers’ attention. During EAA AirVenture Oshkosh 2008 I wrote about Powerplant Development’s Gemini diesel engine (Gemini Diesel Engine Attracts Industry’s Eye), with an update in January 2009 (Gemini Engine Moving Toward Production). Because readers are still discussing the engine in the comment sections of these posts, here is where things stand at EAA AirVenture Oshkosh 2009.

First, JetWhiners aren’t the only one interested in the Gemini diesel. Every time I passed the  Powerplant Development booth in Hangar C the crowd around the trim black and silver engine and company president Tim Archer was two or three deep. After a half-dozen or so passes on different days, I finally was able to get a minute or so with him.

Like just about every other aspect of life worldwide, the economy has slowed progress, but “we’ve finished the mapping of the fuel system,” said Archer. This was the key element needed to complete the programming of the engine control unit, which controls the fuel nozzle.

With this key component in place, “We should be receiving production units in the next three weeks.” Durability and endurance testing begins with their arrival, Archer said. A lot of that testing will take place in England and, given the current schedule, it should take about a year to complete. — Scott Spangler