EPS develops water-cooled diesel aviation engine

A small New Richmond company is hoping to have a big impact in the world of aviation.

Engineered Propulsion System Inc., or EPS, is developing an engine that will be the first lightweight, high-performance, water-cooled, diesel engine for general aviation. Chief technology officer, Steven Weinzierl, says aircraft engine technology really hasn’t changed much since the 1950s, and EPS wants to change that.

The EPS engine uses internationally-available jet fuel, rather than the heavily-leaded “avgas,” which makes it better for the environment and better suited for use outside the U.S. EPS will test fly its new engine in the Mojave Desert this fall following years of development. The Journal Sentinel says the company hopes to bring the engine to market in 2016.

EPS has its engine on display at EAA’s AirVenture in Oshkosh.