Wilksch Airmotive Ltd
Encyclopedia
Diesel engine
A diesel engine is an internal combustion engine that uses the heat of compression to initiate ignition to burn the fuel, which is injected into the combustion chamber...
for light aircraft. Wilksch engines run on Avtur (aka Jet fuel), which is cheaper and more widely available than Avgas. The company, founded in 1994, manufactures two-stroke
Two-stroke cycle
A two-stroke engine is an internal combustion engine that completes the process cycle in one revolution of the crankshaft...
compression ignition engines. In a maiden flight in a Piper J-3
Piper J-3
The Piper J-3 Cub is a small, simple, light aircraft that was built between 1937 and 1947 by Piper Aircraft. With tandem seating, it was intended for flight training but became one of the most popular and best-known light aircraft of all time...
on 21 November 1997, an 80-horsepower 2-cylinder prototype engine became the first two-stroke diesel aircraft engine to fly in over 50 years.
The company then concentrated on developing a three cylinder 120 hp WAM engine
Wilksch WAM series
-See also:...
which first flew in Dec 1999. In 2005 the Wilksch company announced a manufacturing deal with Lister Petter - effectively the WAM (WIlksch Air Motive) company would lease space but would actually manufacture themselves at the Lister Petter factory in Gloucestershire UK. In the following 18 months some 40 engines were made - to date it is believed that about 20 have flown in kit built aircraft in places as far apart as Brazil, USA, Sweden, Germany, France and the UK
In 2006 the company faced financial difficulties - not uncommon with such high tech/high design demand scenarios.
A group of existing shareholders increased their investment and took overall control though the composition of the private shareholding remains broadly the same.
Mark Wilksch the founder left the company in any operational role later that year and took on a role with Continental Engines in the US.
Wilksch Airmotive moved into premises at Gloucestershire Airport
Gloucestershire Airport
Gloucestershire Airport , formerly Staverton Airport, is located at Staverton, in the Borough of Tewkesbury within Gloucestershire, England. It lies west of Cheltenham, near the city of Gloucester and close to the M5 motorway. According to the sign at the airport's entrance it is Gloucestershire's...
at the end of 2007 where they are continuing to develop their diesel engines. They have test cells in which they run the engines to JAR cycles. WAM moved to a low volume production regime of the existing design and returned to development with the aim of creating the next generation of engines, namely a larger capacity version of the 3-cylinder engine and (in due course) a 4-cylinder version.
In July 2009 Liberty Aerospace
Liberty Aerospace
Liberty Aerospace is a manufacturer of general aviation aircraft based in Melbourne, Florida.The company produces one model, the Liberty XL2, an advanced two-seat touring aircraft based on the British-designed Europa homebuilt airplane...
unveiled a version of their XL2
Liberty XL2
The Liberty XL2 is a two-seat, low-wing, general aviation aircraft manufactured by Liberty Aerospace of Melbourne, Florida for the personal transportation, touring and flight training roles.-Development:...
2-seat aircraft powered by Wilksch turbo-diesel, aimed at the non-North American market. Liberty are assisting Wilksch in certifying
Type certificate
A Type Certificate, is awarded by aviation regulating bodies to aerospace manufacturers after it has been established that the particular design of a civil aircraft, engine, or propeller has fulfilled the regulating bodies' current prevailing airworthiness requirements for the safe conduct of...
this engine. The XL2 is usually powered by a Continental IOF-240-B, but a WAM variant which burns Jet A fuel would appeal to overseas markets where Avgas
Avgas
Avgas is an aviation fuel used to power piston-engine aircraft. Avgas is distinguished from mogas , which is the everyday gasoline used in cars and some non-commercial light aircraft...
is expensive or unobtainable. Should Liberty indeed offer the WAM engine as a factory-fitted option for the XL2, this will be a major boost that may help secure the future of Wilksch Airmotive.
External links
- http://www.wilksch.com/ Wilksch Airmotive Ltd homepage
- http://www.libertyaircraft.com/airplane-news-center/libertyentersintoagreementwithwilkschairmotivefortestingandcertificationofthewamturbodieselengine.php Liberty XL2 powered by Wilksch