Your bloggers just came across this letter (download here) from the EPA dated Nov. 30, written to the heads of the ethanol lobby (Gen. Wesley Clark and Jeff Broin of Growth Energy), essentially promising to force E15 on us all next year despite widespread opposition. Car companies and hundreds of other companies and organizations affected […]
GAfuels
Support for ethanol in fuels eroding
Two recent articles in the New York Times chronicle eroding public support for ethanol production mandates and its use in vehicle fuels: “A Growing Disaster”, by Russell Harding, 11/28/2009 “US Unlikely to use the Ethanol Congress Ordered”, Matthew Wald, 11/26/2009 The GAfuels Blog is written by three private pilots concerned about the future availability of […]
Mogas – going, going, gone in the Pacific Northwest
Another nail has been driven into the coffin of ethanol free fuel in the Pacific Northwest. Practically all of the gasoline in western Washington and western Oregon comes from four major refineries on the Puget sound north of Seattle. Since Oregon is already a mandatory E10 state due to a state law, we have been […]
Continental sends mixed messages on unleaded fuels
Teledyne Continental Motors has done a number of tests with unleaded gasoline that is supposed to be made to the ASTM spec for 94 UL avgas. There have been several PR releases about these tests, including a report at EAA.org Apparently the tests are a complete success and Continental is ready to certify all of […]
Ethanol & Aircraft – a perspective from 1935
The pros and cons of using ethanol blends in light aircraft may seem like a new issue, but this article that appeared in the June 1935 issue of “Popular Aviation” expresses many of the same concerns shared by your bloggers. While we are not categorically in opposition to ethanol’s use as an aviation fuel, its […]
End of 100LL predicted
Predictions of the phasing out of 100LL “during the Teens” has been described in this article from David Travers Adolphus of the Hemmings Motor News (scroll down to bottom). The article suggests that the likely replacement will be 94UL, quoting sources at the EPA. The GAfuels Blog is written by three private pilots concerned about […]
AOPA Summit forum to address aviation fuels
The EAA announced Oct. 13 that its President Tom Poberezny will participate in the AOPA Summit Opening Panel in Tampa, Fla., Nov. 5: “The group will focus on what’s ahead for general aviation over the next three years, including controversial topics such as user fees, security mandates, and airspace issues.” This includes a special Fuels […]
ASTM begins work on new avgas specification
On Oct. 2 the ASTM announced the start of a new avgas specification for a “binary unleaded aviation fuel”: “1.1 This specification covers formulating specifications for purchases of a binary unleaded aviation fuel under contract and is intended primarily for use by purchasing agencies for testing purposes. 1.2 This specification defines a specific type of […]
Welcome to the GAFuels Blog of GAN
What & Why – GAFuels is your source for up-to-date information concerning fuels for sport aviation. The primary focus is on: Availability of 100LL Progress on finding a replacement for 100LL Availability of Mogas Influence of ethanol production mandates on Mogas availability Effects of ethanol-blended Mogas on aircraft and their engines Efforts by various organizations […]