Phase 1 testing of four possible replacements for 100LL begins this month at the FAA’s William J. Hughes Technical Center in Atlantic City. The four unleaded fuels — one from Shell, one from TOTAL, and two from Swift Fuels — will undergo laboratory and rig testing to analyze a number of factors, including materials compatibility […]
Shell Aviation: A decade of research continues
Last December, Shell Aviation revealed that it was the first major oil company to develop a lead-free replacement for 100LL. The lead-free formulation is the result of 10 years of “exhaustive R&D,” according to company officials. While some worry that large companies will forsake GA as it is such as small segment of the fuels market, Shell […]
Expect third class medical reform in 2015
At the last Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association (AOPA) regional fly-in of the year, pilots clamored to sign a giant petition calling for reform of the third class medical. It’s a scene that’s been played out at all the AOPA events throughout the year, association officials say, reporting that more than 10,000 signatures have been […]
Continental launches CamGuard evaluation
Continental Motors has teamed with Aircraft Specialties Lubricants (ASL) to evaluate the benefits of CamGuard, an aviation oil additive manufactured by ASL. The program will evaluate CamGuard in engines overhauled or repaired by Continental Motor Services at the former Mattituck facility in Fairhope, Ala. While CamGuard has been on the market for quite a while, […]
Teen celebrates 16th birthday with 14 solo flights
Forget a Sweet Sixteen party. Wyatt Angel of Mount Airy, N.C., spent his 16th birthday doing something way more fun — flying 11 airplanes solo at the Mount Airy-Surry County Airport (KMWK), then making his way to the Piedmont Soaring Society in nearby Farmington, where he soloed three gliders. He hopes his birthday celebration will win […]
A type club for backcountry pilots
New to backcountry flying and want a great place to find out how to get started? Or are you a veteran backcountry pilot looking for like-minded souls? Whichever you may be, you are in luck. There’s a meeting place on the web that was created just for you: BackcountryPilot.org. Started in 2004 by software developer and […]
STC in the works for G100UL
While the government begins its testing of four potential 100LL replacements, George Braly and Tim Roehl of General Aviation Modifications Inc. in Oklahoma just finished up yet another test of their unleaded 100-octane avgas — G100UL — at Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University. The fuel underwent flight testing and engine block testing in one of the school’s […]
The state of the state
While there’s no doubt the FAA has a lot of control over general aviation, what’s happening closer to home may be — ultimately — more important. Having a City Council or a state government that’s a fan of general aviation can make all the difference in the world. Just ask Christopher Willenborg, administrator of the aeronautics […]
A type club for type clubs
Need some information about an SX300? Thinking of buying a Sonex or a Sportsman? You can find a wealth of information on all these types — plus a whole lot more — through the Type Club Coalition. The coalition, organized by the Experimental Aircraft Association, was created to increase the level of safety in the […]