[marcosdumay]

> It would be really cool if someone developed a new aircraft engine suitable for replacing all the old models and able to run on a wide range of fuels

As a recent article here talked about, nobody is making new aircraft for general aviation. Or at least, nobody is making anything innovative for it.

But there exist plenty of engines that are good enough for planes and can run on a wide range of fuels. They are just not getting into GA planes.

[SoftTalker]

There is some interesting stuff happening in battery-electric aircraft as trainiers. You can only fly them about 45 minutes and within a local radius of the airport but they are good for people learning the stick-and-rudder basics of flying.

[MrDrMcCoy]

Gliders are even better for learning flight basics, do a better job of teaching you to anticipate and work with turbulence, and have a variable time limit.

[lazide]

Glider hours aren't going to count towards any useful type certification though? Unless you think someone is going to be qualified on a Twin Otter because of 1000 glider hours?

[marcosdumay]

When people talk about trainer aircrafts, they aren't talking about type. None of the trainers count towards that.

[MrDrMcCoy]

Perhaps not for a powered aircraft cert, but it's hours towards a license.

[outworlder]

Like what Diamond did with the Austro engine, which is basically a modified Mercedes engine?