Seems like it'd be easier to develop and certify (or is it certificate?
) an unleaded, 100 octane avgas able to be brewed in auto refineries...
Lumps,
A well timed thought, Continental ( as I recall, not Lycoming) has just announced the certification by FAA of an engine to run on 100LL or 91ULP. It did not mention whether that was motor octane or ASTM octane -- but the intent is to have a engine manufacturer certified to run on mogas, not an STC.
The threat to 100LL is not any shortage of "petrol" but the TEL (lead), which is now produced at one single site only. EPA's of this world are a lesser problem, (except in the minds of rabid greenies) because avgas consumption is sod all % of petrol consumed, the lead is now barely measurable from avgas sources.
With changed refinery processes we are now seeing 100 ULP (motor octane) as common with 105 not far away.
Tootle pip!!