By Ada Hershel, Technology and Science

6/2/282- Hot on the heels of news that Djidann has perfected the process of refining oil for use in industrial machinery, comes a new report that the Djidanni military has conducted the test flight of a diesel powered aircraft.

“Well, I guess it’s real,” said Lucius Carver, who was invited to Djidann to witness the test flight. Carver, an engineer with Crowndon University, was an outspoken skeptic of the endeavour who recently stated that such a thing was years, if not decades, away.

“I hardly believe it,” Carver continued. “But I witnessed the flight with my own eyes. The engine started, the aircraft taxied, and it managed to get off the ground. It flew around the airstrip for five minutes and landed without any complications.”

Despite the reality of the aircraft, Carver remains hesitant to withdraw his claims that Blackwood remains the primary choice for industry.

“The engine was nearly bone dry when I inspected it after the flight,” Carver said. “Like I said before, a pool in a desert. Still, I must give credit where credit is due: the Djidanni accomplished what they set out to do, and I have no doubt they will continue to improve on their design.”

The Djidanni engineer responsible for the aircraft, Derjaja Bosmun, begrudgingly accepted the lukewarm praise.

“I feel Mister Carver still under estimates Djidanni ingenuity,” Bosmun said. “But any praise from a Crowndonian, not matter how slight, is an improvement. It is my hope that one day Djidann will be known as the top player in the world of not only industrial engines, but commercial engines, as well.”

With the recent reports of a critical Blackwood shortage looming, perhaps Bosmun’s claims aren’t entirely out of the realm of possibility.