SMA Diesel 182 Enroute 37 hour Test Flight

[NW_Pilot]

Well I have about 9 hours in the 182 SMA seems to be a Good Engine, Very Odd Fuel Burn...

Full Power 4 3,000 FT hours Burned 45 Gallons Jet A
Full Power Another 4 Hours 1,500' Burned 31 Gallons

POH Supplement Says The Fuel Data/Range Is Not Approved. I can see why...

I have a few other safety issues I will explain later... will post updates as I go and A conclusion.... With all issues.

 

[TWA]

Good luck! Where are you taking it?

 

[NW_Pilot]

Final Drop Off Place is Tanzania...

Went through some moderate to heavy showers today enroute to KCYS bird leaks way to much water so who ever do the halfass refirb on it including the paint job was done outside and it shows.... Is going to have to reseal front and rear and fix a few other items. Auto Pilot hangs in left turns but works great in a right turn will not track GPS and HDG is 10 to 15 deg. off. Darn old Cessna 300 Navomatic..

 

[CrimsonEclipse]

Does the Diesel have more vibration?

CE

 

[Swass]

My guess is that it purrs like a kitten.

 

[NW_Pilot]

My guess is that it purrs like a kitten.

In flight it is quiet and smooth on the ground well that a different story,

So far it has rattled the radio stack loose and popped all seals on front and rear windshields... front is rattling at idle. Plus many other issues to long to list....

Here are some photos what you get for about $300K 30 Hours Flight Time. Performance is Less than a Avgas Gas Turbo 182, No Cabin Heater At 12,500 At -10C So far Support has been the corporate blame shift or play dumb game.

Aircraft is Grounded here in the bay area due to some unknown chafing on the prop hub. Not sure if it's with in acceptable limits.

This Is All My Opinion During The Test Flying.

http://www.internationalferryflights.com/Africa_182_Diesel/Folder 2/

From, Dealers Web Site http://www.dieselairplanes.com/products.html

Current Available Products Today, you can order from us an FAA-certified Cessna 182, completely refurbished and converted with the SMA SR 305 diesel, opposite cylinder turbo engine of 230 HP.
What you will get, within 3 months delivery time max., is:

• A “better than new” plane: Corrosion inspection and treatment; new paint (colors of your choice); new leather interior; full IFR avionics with moving map Garmin GPS, Bendix NavCom and Auto-Pilot; various Options including Glass Panel.
• A better market value: Every pilot who has flown a Cessna diesel knows that such a superior plane will be in very high demand as credibility of diesel engine is building up fast.
• The performance and safety of diesel airplane:

ü The Cessna 182 SMA cruises 10 knots faster at 12,000 ft. She burns 9 Gal/h (4 Gal/h less) at max. cruise speed, and, at best economy speed, only 4 Gal/h, which means that, with adverse weather, you have all the time in the world to fly to a remote alternate and can virtually forget the fear of running out of fuel.

ü Thanks to using JetA fuel you can forget the fear of Fire On Board.

ü An exceptional Payload on shorter distances: Operating from a 5,000 ft high runway with partial fuel, 182 diesels already demonstrate a better payload than a Cessna 206.