When will we get Unleaded Avgas in Oz
When will we get Unleaded Avgas in Oz
Lots of news comming recently on the unleaded avgas front from Swift Fuels and GAMI Fuel. FAA staring to approve hundreds of engines, swift fuel is already available at some airfields in the US.
So when can we expect to see some of it arrive downunder?
After a few hours of reading I'm not sure how the Chieftains will handle it (didn't GAMI have some sort of plasma ignition system in the works).
So when can we expect to see some of it arrive downunder?
After a few hours of reading I'm not sure how the Chieftains will handle it (didn't GAMI have some sort of plasma ignition system in the works).
Short answer is "Probably never", as we don't have the environmental groups to worry about down here. Our GA industry is growing smaller every year, so until the vast majority of the fleet is approved for unleaded, it doesn't make sense for any refueller to provide it. A second bowser, 2nd tanker (that wouldn't be often used), fuel going stale, etc etc. Too many headaches until we are dragged kicking and screaming into the 21st Century...
Swift has been available in the states for quite some time, and whenever you see it at a bowser beside an avgas bowser it was at a pretty good pricepoint. But if it came to Australia it'd be like the E10 bull****, 2 cents a litre cheaper when it should be 10.
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As far as I can tell, E10 sells to two sorts of people; those who never track their fuel consumption and don't realise the increased consumption swallows the cost saving several times over, and those who cannot yet afford a hybrid but think they're making a difference...
E10 was 9 cents per liter cheaper today than other unleaded fuels. I agree with this article, If the price difference is greater than 4cents per litre. For me, in my car, E10 is cheaper and all I use.
https://www.abc.net.au/news/2018-07-...tralia/9922938
As far as I can tell, E10 sells to two sorts of people; those who never track their fuel consumption and don't realise the increased consumption swallows the cost saving several times over, and those who cannot yet afford a hybrid but think they're making a difference...
E10 was 9 cents per liter cheaper today than other unleaded fuels. I agree with this article, If the price difference is greater than 4cents per litre. For me, in my car, E10 is cheaper and all I use.
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G100UL
This answer provided by someone who is in the know, but not on this forum.
The correct answer is when the FAA stop playing games and moving the goal posts on what they had been already prepared to sign off on. Recent article by Paul Bertorelli has details.
As for Australia, some time after the USA production gets to a point where TEL is no longer viable to produce (Innospec) and Viva can get their restructuring in place, or anyone decides to import from the USA.
As for Chieftains......they will LOVE it, as will any TC piston aircraft. Supper Connie could run full MAP again if they wanted to. G100UL perfamnce testing has shown it is more like a 100/160 fuel so better detonation margin in rich mixture states than the old purple avgas at a 145 rating. All piston aero engines will run cleaner and longer and hopefully down the track without TEL deposits to be handled by the oil, products like Mobil AV1 could make a comeback, thus having better oil and longer service intervals. Even if it is a few c/l dearer, there will be many cost benefits
Swift fuel is not the answer, not suitable across the fleet and not fully fungible. And expensive by comparison to produce.
Patience is required, as we should have had this on the market in the USA by 2017. Again refer the article mentioned above.
As for Australia, some time after the USA production gets to a point where TEL is no longer viable to produce (Innospec) and Viva can get their restructuring in place, or anyone decides to import from the USA.
As for Chieftains......they will LOVE it, as will any TC piston aircraft. Supper Connie could run full MAP again if they wanted to. G100UL perfamnce testing has shown it is more like a 100/160 fuel so better detonation margin in rich mixture states than the old purple avgas at a 145 rating. All piston aero engines will run cleaner and longer and hopefully down the track without TEL deposits to be handled by the oil, products like Mobil AV1 could make a comeback, thus having better oil and longer service intervals. Even if it is a few c/l dearer, there will be many cost benefits
Swift fuel is not the answer, not suitable across the fleet and not fully fungible. And expensive by comparison to produce.
Patience is required, as we should have had this on the market in the USA by 2017. Again refer the article mentioned above.
