So remember, it takes only two things to be an expert: gray hair and hemorrhoids. The gray hair makes you look distinguished. The hemorrhoids make you look concerned.
Liability raises its ugly head once again
I recently received a number of notes from people who asked the same two questions: Could aircraft engine manufacturers build engines that operate safely on autogas and autogas containing ethanol and, if so, why don’t they? I recently received a number of notes from people who asked the same two questions: Could aircraft engine manufacturers […]
A new fuel takes flight
On Dec. 17, 2007, the United States Air Force flew a C-17 Globemaster III from McChord Air Force Base in Washington to McGuire Air Force Base in New Jersey on a 50/50 blend of synthetic fuel and JP-8, a traditional hydrocarbon jet fuel. On Dec. 17, 2007, the United States Air Force flew a C-17 […]
Herb Poitz : You may not know his name, but he changed the way we fly
I have been asked many times at air shows if I was the original developer of Aeroshell W oils. I have been asked many times at air shows if I was the original developer of Aeroshell W oils. I appreciate the honor, however I usually try to tell some version of the truth. Since I […]
Own a certified airplane? Just say no to ethanol
In my Nov. 23 column, “”What effect does ethanol have on airplanes?””, I tried to answer the question of what to do if you end up accidentally getting some auto gas that contains ethanol in your airplane. I had intended this to be information for people who tried to use non-ethanol containing auto gas, but […]
Oregon legislature compromises GA safety with new ethanol law
I believe it was Mark Twain who once said that nothing is safe when the legislature is in session. I believe it was Mark Twain who once said that nothing is safe when the legislature is in session. Well, the state of Oregon just passed House Bill 2210, which requires that once ethanol production in […]
What effect does ethanol have on airplanes?
“”What is the effect of having mixed 10% ethanol with avgas and/or ethanol-free mogas on two or three occasions?”” asks reader Ken Rice. “”The place where I bought ethanol-free mogas lied to us about the change to 10% ethanol. I only found out about it when I asked the tanker driver.”” “”What is the effect […]
Understanding octane
The most interesting and least understood part of a fuel’s properties is the octane quality or number. The most interesting and least understood part of a fuel’s properties is the octane quality or number. The octane requirement of an engine is affected by the combustion chamber shape, the bore size, the compression ratio, the load […]
The difference between 100/130 and 100LL
Dennis writes that he’s been been buying 100LL for many years and thought that 100/130 was different from 100LL. He remembers buying 100/130 one time and it was green, not blue like 100LL. He also noted that the chart for adding TCP to the fuel calls for more additive when 100/130 is used than when 100LL is used.