I was reading the latest edition of FLYING Magazine, and I noticed an article about Diamond's new 6 passenger turbodiesel twin.  What really caught my interest was the statement "Diamond is not planning on pressurizing the airplane; instead, it will be equipped with an oxygen generator."

 

As a builder of a non-pressurized Lancair IV, this was interesting to me.  I've long wondered why I've never heard about oxygen generators being used in small planes.

 

Is an oxygen generator really a substitute for pressurization?  Is the main disadvantage to not having pressurization really the price of bottled oxygen?

 

I've attached the short article for anyone who is interested.

 

Pete