We are now well into 2017, so I thought I would review all of the significant advancements in the world of general aviation future fuels, especially the development of an unleaded 100 octane avgas. But there were none. We have had a lot of talk about the candidate fuels, testing, new specification, etc. We have […]
The difficulty in determining rich and lean ratings
I recently received a question on octane ratings similar to the questions I typically receive. The reader wanted to know what the rich and lean rating would be for 100, 110, 112, 114 and 118 octane racing gasolines. And what would be the R+M/2 of 80/87, 100/130, 100LL, and 115/145 avgas? The problem here is that […]
2016: Just an OK year for GA
Well, we made it through another year. It was not a great year for general aviation, but not a real bad one either — it was just OK. On the down side, we continue to lose many of our great aviators and heroes. For example, the loss of Bob Hoover was sad for the whole country, but […]
More questions about ethanol
In my last column, Ethanol and aircraft: Just say no, I answered some questions about ethanol and its effect on aircraft. In this column, I would like to address some follow-up questions about ethanol. Specifically, if ethanol causes so many problems with engines, why is it added to fuel and why is fuel with ethanol cheaper than […]
Ethanol and aircraft: Just say no
Almost every month I receive a question or two about auto gas with ethanol. The questions usually center on whether it can be used in aircraft and if not, why not. The answer I give is almost always: “ No because of technical and/or legal reasons.” Technical Reasons There is a fairly long list of technical […]
Grease: Not the movie, the slippery stuff
When I was a boy growing up on a farm, we had one pail of grease and it was used to lubricate everything on the farm. But aviation is different: There is a wide variety of greases and they have different properties for each application. The unique part of greases is that they are not […]
Oil filters: Are they necessary or just nice?
I’ve received several questions recently about oil filters. Specifically, if you own an aircraft that came from the factory without an oil filter, should you install an aftermarket filter? The questions were usually divided into two parts. First, will the installation of an oil filter pay for itself? And will an oil filter increase the life or […]
Water: Can’t live without it, can’t fly with it
At most of my seminars, there is always a discussion about water in fuel, where it comes from and what steps need to be taken to guard against any problems because of it. So, where does the water come from? Most of it comes from condensation. All hydrocarbon fuels, like 100LL and Jet A, will […]
Why a bonding cable is so important when refueling your plane
The need for bonding cables is not another frivolous government regulation. It is a much needed safety rule.