At the recent AOPA Aviation Summit, several industry leaders made the startling comment that lead in avgas is going away. Well, duh, what do you think I have been saying for the last 20 years? The comments fall into three general areas: The first is the gloom and doom group that feel that it is […]
Global warming debate stifles progress
I’ve received a lot of mail on my recent column on the effects of carbon dioxide on global warming (How are planes affecting the environment?). The replies were both pro and con on global warming and the greenhouse gas thing. I read most of the reports and find them very interesting. The problem is in […]
Jet A and diesel engines
In a previous column I talked about going to a recent ASTM meeting and the progress being made on unleaded avgas. At this same meeting, there also was a lot of discussions on the qualification of diesel cycle aircraft engines on Jet A. There were two main areas of discussion: The first was to establish […]
The fuel of the future
As all pilots know, you go to Oshkosh to find out what is new in aviation. But if you want to know what’s new in aviation fuels, you go to an ASTM meeting. ASTM is the organization that is in charge of the specifications for just about everything. If you buy a gallon of Jet […]
Oil temperature vs. oil viscosity
Reader David Bennett recently wrote in, asking about oil temperature vs. oil grade. “When oil is rated for a certain temperature range, is that start-up temperature range or the range for most of the intended trip? My Super Cub handbook states SAE 40 is good from 30°F to 90°F, but on the Aeroshell site, it […]
How are planes affecting the environment?
Lately, I’ve received a lot of e-mails from readers asking about the environment and the effect of internal combustion engine exhaust on our climate. One factor is the effect of CO2 on the environment. My understanding is that CO2 is relatively harmless and naturally occurring. To try to better understand the latest concern about CO2, […]
Getting the lead out
I received an e-mail from a gentleman who is a “small investor” in Swift Fuels, a group associated with Purdue University working to produce an unleaded, high-octane aviation fuel that can be made from almost any sugar-containing plant matter. He asked that I update people on Swift’s progress, as well as took me to task […]
What oil should you use?
Many pilots want to know what oil to use and where to get it. To answer these questions accurately, I sent a questionnaire to the four main oil companies that supply lubricants to the general aviation industry. I received nice replies from Shell and Phillips, a note from BP that said the company was changing […]
Six tips to cut your flying expenses
Frugal flying may be some sort of oxymoron, but there are a number of things pilots can do to minimize expenses. The first and foremost is to maintain your engine and keep it on spec. A fouled spark plug or retarded mag timing can increase your fuel consumption significantly. Second is speed. I know we […]