One of the drawbacks of the first iteration of Thielert's turbo diesel was a 300 hour change interval for the clutch system that was installed between the crankshaft and the output shaft for the propeller. Diamond, convinced of the need for a turbo-diesel aircraft engine for their fleet of aircraft has spent the last two years developing their own turbo diesel powerplant. The Diamond AE300 engine is rated at 170 horsepower. To transmit the power Diamond developed what they term the Two-Mass clutch system. One mass is driven by the engine and the other mass is bolted to the propeller. The connection between the two masses is made by two springs. The springs absorb the power impulses before transmitting the power to the propeller.
Ken Schaelchlin is Director of Customer Support at Diamond Aircraft. He took some time to explain the Two Mass system to Ells Aviation at AirVenture 2010

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