IndUS Unveils the First-Ever LSA Diesel
Sun ‘n Fun has been a rip-roaring success for Light-Sport Aircraft. The new LSA Mall right at the main entrance gate has been thick with traffic all week and even the weather cooperated after a day-before-opening deluge of rain (5+ inches in a few hours!). In the days ahead, I’ll have lots more LSA news for SPLOG readers. *** On Saturday, IndUS Aviation unveiled their first-in-the-industry diesel-powered Thorpedo DP. News media and interested parties turned out to hear IndUS leaders speak about the project. The Dallas, Texas-based company finally pulled back the curtain after months of work to reveal their WAM-120 three cylinder, two-stroke engine tucked neatly under their new shapely nose cowl. *** Turbocharged and supercharged, the 120-horsepower engine burns a mere 3 gallons of Jet A per hour. This fuel is widely available around the world (important to an international seller like IndUS) where 100LL is not. According to IndUS president Ram Pattisapu, “[The WAM-120 is] quiet and has unbelievable climb performance.” *** ASTM has a compression engine standard for diesel engines; IndUS is the first to use it and is presently pursuing certification of the Thorpedo DP. They expect to offer the aircraft for sale by AirVenture Oshkosh 2008.