Last month, Lycoming expanded its support for alternative fuels by announcing that it was seeking EASA approval for operation of many of its engines on the unleaded aviation fuel UL91. The company also announced it was planning to approve its new O-233 LSA engine for autogas, a clear response to engines from Rotax, Jabiru, ULPower, […]
Aviation Fuel
ULPower’s new 6-cylinder autogas engines
Belgian aircraft engine maker ULPower recently announced a new line of FADEC-controlled, autogas-burning six-cylinder engines ranging in output from 140-200 hp. According to Robert Helms, general manager of ULPower North America, “The thrust to weight ratio is appealing to the designers of many aircraft. Whether you are focused on short takeoff, high economy, or high […]
Lycoming seeks approval on unleaded avgas
Lycoming Engines has applied for approval to use UL 91 unleaded avgas in several of its engine models, including those in the 233, 235, 320 and 360 engine families. Engines in the 540 family will follow as Lycoming completes additional validation, Lycoming officials said. Lycoming has submitted for ASTM D7547 UL 91 unleaded avgas approval […]
FAA avgas research funding ‘critical’
Officials at general aviation’s alphabet groups have sent a letter to Congress emphasizing that the FAA is a critical participant in continuing research to develop an unleaded aviation fuel, according to a report at AOPA.org. The letter urges Congressional support for funding in the agency’s fiscal 2013 budget.
The staggering chicken test
In response to a previous column in which I expounded on the problem of exhaust valve recession with unleaded fuels, I received a note from Ron Newberg, which reminded me of work done by the oil companies back in the early 1970s. I actually ran some of these tests, in which we demonstrated that Tri-Cresyl […]
Ever-increasing prices make fuel planning more important
The price of oil has risen nearly 20% in the last six months, to well over $100 a barrel, pushing up aviation fuel costs and forcing pilots to do redouble their focus on fuel planning, according to a report at NBAA.org, which offers several tips on how to deal with the increased costs.
The FBO fuel sales model is broken and anti-competitive
In almost every article about the future of leaded avgas, this statement appears, “… only one fuel will be stocked by the FBO system.” This particular quote comes from a reply by Mac McClellen to Todd Petersen in Mac’s latest Left Seat blog on the EAA’s website. You will also find it in almost every […]
New autogas supplier for Virginia and North Carolina
Reflecting the increasing demand for lead-free autogas at GA airports, Jernigan Oil of Ahoskie, N.C., announced this week its willingness to deliver 93 AKI autogas to any airport in the states of North Carolina or Virginia. Michael Harrell, owner of Jernigan Oil, explains: “I grew up in an aviation family. My father was a crop […]
Eagle Creek Aviation joins Avfuel network
Eagle Creek Aviation Services at Eagle Creek Airport (EYE) near Indianapolis has joined the Avfuel network of FBOs. It now offers Avfuel Contract Fuel, the AVTRIP rewards program, and a variety of additional products. Services include fuel, quick turns, hangars, maintenance, weather, GPUs, and more, including a pilot lounge area, flight planning facilities and use […]