Pilot
March 2001
"Wilksch diesel takes to the air"
"Wilksch Air Motive (WAM) reports that six test flights have been completed in Europa G-WWWG powered by the prototype WAM-CITEC diesel engine, fitted with a 64-inch diameter MT V7 VP propeller.For these early test flights, flown between 2 and 9 January, the engine was de-rated to 80 hp (nominal power is 120 hp).The aim was to assess engine handling, performance, and reliability before more extensive flight tests with the second prototype engine, due to start towards the beginning of March.
Measurements were made of full power initial climb rate and level speed at altitudes up to 5,000 feet, using full throttle/2,500 rpm and seventy per cent/2,300-with the throttle gated by inserting an artificial stop in the stem. WAM says the results were ‘most encouraging’. As had been anticipated, the turbocharged engine’s manifold pressure was not affected by reducing air density, and the indicated airspeed remained constant for a given power setting as altitude increased.
At 2,000 ft and 5,000 ft, identical full and seventy per cent throttle settings of 132 KIAS and 120 KIAS were recorded.The climb rates matched other 80 hp/VP propeller Europas at similar weights. The maximum altitude reached was 6,3000 feet and test Pilot John Brownlow reports that there “was still plenty of climb performance left”.
A graduate of the Empire Test Pilot School and, latterly, a PFA National Coach and flying instructor, Brownlow also says, “For the first time when flying a homebuilt aircraft, the smoothness of power response and the low level of vibration reminded me of my long-past jet fighter days.”Over the Course of the test flights, he gained sufficient confidence in the engine to wind the Europa up to 155 knots for a low pass – “the engine felt as smooth as a jet”.
During the performance tests, fuel consumption was approximately 15 lpg – just over three gph.