The GAfuels Blog is written by two private pilots concerned about the future availability of fuels for piston-engine aircraft: Dean Billing, Sisters, Ore., an expert on autogas and ethanol, and Kent Misegades, Cary, N.C., an aerospace engineer and aviation journalist.

On Sept. 20, AOPA Online published an article from the staff of the National Air Transportation Association (NATA) titled “Challenges of a dual-fuel solution”. NATA is the country’s largest trade organization focused on companies providing services to the general aviation community. Reflecting the interests of its major constituents, NATA’s activities are concentrated on turbine-powered aircraft used for commercial purposes as opposed to piston-engine aircraft used in sport aviation. While not explicitly stated in the article, the “dual-fuel solution” that NATA opposes is one consisting of the future unleaded 100-octane replacement to 100LL and a lower octane fuel such as Hjelmco’s 91/96UL or 94UL, a new standard for which is soon to be approved by the ASTM.

The article ignores entirely the existence since the 1980s of a dual-fuel solution that not only can dramatically reduce the use of leaded fuel, but also lower significantly the cost to fly and maintain our aircraft. [Read more...]

The GAfuels Blog is written by two private pilots concerned about the future availability of fuels for piston-engine aircraft: Dean Billing, Sisters, Ore., an expert on autogas and ethanol, and Kent Misegades, Cary, N.C., an aerospace engineer and aviation journalist.

First reported in this blog in July, Sam Hokin’s Pure-Gas.org listing of gas stations and marinas that sell ethanol-free gasoline continues to grow at a fast rate.

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The GAfuels Blog is written by two private pilots concerned about the future availability of fuels for piston-engine aircraft: Dean Billing, Sisters, Ore., an expert on autogas and ethanol, and Kent Misegades, Cary, N.C., an aerospace engineer and aviation journalist.

Hjelmco Oil of Sollentuna, Sweden, has provided 100LL and 91/96UL unleaded avgas for over two decades. It recently documented its research concerning unleaded 100-octane fuels making use of ETBE as an anti-knocking component. Hjelmo has provided details on similar work performed at Cessna Aircraft, including Cessna’s rigorous in-house fuel testing facility.

The GAfuels Blog is written by two private pilots concerned about the future availability of fuels for piston-engine aircraft: Dean Billing, Sisters, Ore., an expert on autogas and ethanol, and Kent Misegades, Cary, N.C., an aerospace engineer and aviation journalist.

A recently-released study from the European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA), titled “Safety Implications of Biofuels in Aviation,” details a multi-year study of the effects of ethanol on aircraft. Areas researched in the literature review, laboratory investigations and on engine test stands included phase separation, long-term storage, vapor lock, material compatibility, life cycle analysis, water detection and Failure Mode and Effects Analysis. In warning strongly against the use of ethanol in Mogas, “Research Project EASA.2008/6” predicted that, should ethanol-free Mogas become unavailable at airports, lead emissions in Germany alone would increase from 12 metric tons today to 18 tons per year as pilots are forced to use 100LL instead of Mogas.

Submitted by Kent Misegades

For a list of airports that have ethanol-free fuel and those no longer pumping it, compiled by the authors, follow this link.

Resolution 1473, passed by the House of Representatives in “Recognizing the value of recreational aviation” and as reported in General Aviation News on Sept. 16 , is rather amusing.  On the one hand you would think that there is this widespread support for general aviation, particularly recreational aviation, in our Congress.  However every one of those congressmen who was named as supporting recreational aviation, who was in Congress in 2007, also voted for H.R. 6 (2007), which is causing a great deal of economic damage in GA today.  I doubt that any of them know it.

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There are a number of media reports, websites and blogs here and there about the transition process to an unleaded 100 octane avgas, which illustrate two serious misconceptions of the aircraft owners who must have 100 octane avgas. Until these misconceptions are addressed honestly, GA is going to tear itself apart.

Misconception 1: The amount of 100 octane avgas that is used or needed by GA is not known accurately. The worn-out statistic that is always thrown out in the press and at meetings needs to be challenged and then replaced by accurate numbers. This is the statistic that is oft repeated, “While these operators represent about 30% of the general aviation piston fleet, they consume about 70% of the fuel.” It is very important for those start-up companies that might be planning to make a 100 octane replacement that the consumption statistic by target audience be accurate, but this statement isn’t accurate. Nobody knows exactly where it came from, but it has been repeated over and over for almost a decade, that I know of, in the aviation press. That doesn’t make it true!

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Thanks to Sam Hokin, creator of the new PURE-GAS listing of gas stations carrying ethanol-free gasolines, your bloggers are pleased to report that hundreds of KwikTrip gas stations in Wisconsin, Minnesota and Iowa now sell premium, ethanol-free gasoline. Marketed as recreational gasoline, this 91 octane fuel is ideal for all aircraft with Mogas STCs and all Rotax and Jabiru powered aircraft.

Pilots are always advised to check any gasoline for ethanol using a simple tester described by Petersen Aviation. According to KwikTrip officials, the recreational gasoline is in strong demand from owners of boats, ATVs, snowmobiles and others who need ethanol-free gasoline. They intend to offer this fuel indefinitely.

If your airport is located in the states of Wisconsin, Minnesota or Iowa, we suggest you contact the nearest KwikTrip to learn who supplies their fuel, then contact them for possible deliveries of Mogas to your airport.  We wish KwikTrip great success with its recreational gasoline, and hope that this encourages others to follow their lead.

The GAfuels Blog is written by three private pilots concerned about the future availability of fuels for piston-engine aircraft. They are:

• Dean Billing (Sisters, Ore.) – an expert on autogas and ethanol
• Kent Misegades (Cary, N.C.) – an aerospace engineer and aviation journalist
• Todd Petersen (Minden, Neb.) – former aerial applicator and owner of more than 150 Mogas STCs for aircraft

For a list of airports that have ethanol-free fuel and those no longer pumping it, compiled by the authors, follow this link.

PURE-GAS is a new effort to inform motorists of suppliers of ethanol-free gasoline across the U.S. and Canada. If you know of stations carrying E0 that do not appear on this list, it is simple to add to it. The listing currently has more than 1,000 stations carrying E0 in one or more grades. These stations are often near or on marinas as boaters, like aviators, generally may not use fuels containing ethanol.

About 70%-80% of the fleet of piston engine aircraft may legally and safely operate on unleaded, ethanol-free 91 octane (premium) gasoline. Virtually all of the new LSA fleet uses engines (Rotax, Jabiru) that have been designed to be run on 91 octane gasoline, not 100LL.  The majority of legacy GA piston aircraft may also burn Mogas under STCs from Petersen Aviation or the EAA. These STCs cost little and involve only paperwork; they require no expensive modifications to the engine or powerplant. If you are interested in adding a Mogas pump to your local airfield, contact the bloggers through their new website FLY UNLEADED.