The Zoche aero-diesels are a trio of radical Germanprototypedieselradialaero-engines intended for light aircraft. Zoche engines are modular and are all direct-drive, air-cooled, radial two-stroke diesels with up to four cylinders per row. They all feature direct fuel-injection, two-stage charging, and intercooling. The testing and gestation period of the Zoche engines has already lasted over 20 years; and whether or when production may eventually start is unknown.
The range comprises three radial engines, namely: a "cross-4"; a twin-row "cross-8"; and a V-twin. The AOPA website explains the "cross-4" ZO 01A as follows: "The radial design was chosen for its ability to be effectively air-cooled and 100% balanced at all rpm with a simple counterweight system. All four connecting rods are attached to a single crankshaft throw. This prevents any crankshaft twisting, which is hard to balance out in opposed-configuration engines. Zoche engines use a pneumatic starting system that does away with the need for a heavy-duty starter and battery system". Propeller rotation is clockwise. Engine mountings are attached to the cylinder heads. Engines are to be certified to JAR-E and FAR 33, and a TBO of 2,000 hours is anticipated. The founder of the project is Michael Zoche, who claims that the ZO engines will have the following advantages:
they will be lightweight, compact and very smooth;
the engines will also have a "classic radial" appearance that is appropriate for some aircraft types.
A Zoche engine has run effectively in wind tunnel tests, but Zoche seem barely any closer to production than they were a decade ago. Experimental engine manufacturers seem to experience difficulties in proceeding beyond the prototype stage. The cited engine weights include: starter-generator, hydraulic propeller-governor, turbocharger and supercharger, and oil- and fuel-filters.
Zoche engine variants
; ZO 01A ; ZO 02A ; ZO 03A ; ZO 04A
Lambert Mission
The Lambert Mission 212, a kit-built 4-seat aircraft from Belgium, was initially designed around the Zoche ZO1A engine; but, with the non-appearance of the Zoche, Lambert were obliged to select other engines, the DeltaHawk® DH200A4, or the XP-360 engine. In May 2010 the second M212 Mission was successfully flown.
