The First Airplane Diesel Engine: Packard Model DR-980 of 1928

Listeners are taken on a concise journey through the birth of the world’s first oil‑burning aircraft engine, the Packard diesel of 1928. The narration sets the scene with the engine’s debut in the National Air Museum, then traces the rapid excitement it sparked across Europe and the United States, highlighting how its modest power output and impressive fuel economy captured the imagination of engineers and pilots alike.

The audio blends vivid photographs, period drawings, and first‑hand accounts from those who flew the diesel‑powered Bellanca, offering clear explanations of its compression‑ignition cycle, weight‑saving design choices, and the technical hurdles overcome in under a year of development. Listeners also hear thoughtful analysis of the engine’s strengths and shortcomings, giving a balanced view of why this pioneering machine mattered in the broader story of aviation propulsion.