Air Plains Services is showcasing its newly branded unleaded fuel solution for flight, Inpulse, from July 23-29 at the Experimental Aircraft Association’s AirVenture in Oshkosh, Wis.
Oshkosh attendees are invited to stop by booth #339 to talk with Air Plains founder Mike Kelley about Inpulse. Additionally, Kelley will participate on a panel discussion, “Autogas at 30 Years,” featuring leading figures involved in the certification of autogas as an aviation fuel. The panel is scheduled for Thursday, July 26 at 11:30 a.m. (EST) in Pavilion 03 Sennheiser Aviation.
Inpulse is an anti-detonant injection system (ADI) that enables high-compression engines to safely run on low octane fuel. ADI, also known as water injection, is not a new technology, but Air Plains Services of Wellington, Kan., and Petersen Aviation Inc. of Minden, Neb., are adapting the idea for use in today’s aircraft.
An FAA-approved Supplemental Type Certificate (STC) enables the installation of the system components on the aircraft, allowing the operator to run the engine with more flexibility, fuel availability and cost savings, company officials said. Air Plains installs the Inpulse system on the aircraft, including a fluid tank for the system’s mixture of 60% methanol, 39% demineralized water and 1% soluble oil.
“Inpulse is currently available for the Cessna 188, Cessna 210 and Beech Baron IO-470 and IO-520 engines,” said Kelley, who started the company in 1977 at Wellington Airport, 25 miles south of Wichita, Kan. “We plan to pursue additional models as the market demands a proven, effective solution for the high cost of and eventual phasing out of leaded fuel.”
Inpulse is controlled by sensors monitoring manifold pressure and cylinder head temperatures. The methanol injection nozzles, located in the intake manifold, are controlled by a computer that automatically activates the system when the manifold pressure is above 25 inches of mercury or the cylinder head temperature is above 400°F. During cruise flight the system is turned off and the aircraft burns 91 octane fuel only.
The Inpulse system will be featured at EAA booth #339, which is dedicated to companies that play roles in the expanding use of autogas in aviation. In addition to Air Plains Services, the exhibiting companies include American Legend Aircraft, whose entire fleet of popular light planes are certified to operate on autogas; Aviation Fuel Club; autogas advocates FlyUnleaded.com; STC owner Petersen Aviation; and U-Fuel. The booth is also headquarters for the first Unleaded to Oshkosh event, commemorating the 30th anniversary of the FAA’s first approval of lead-free autogas as an aviation fuel.
For more information: AirPlains.com
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