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Other than the Hackernews comment from a couple days ago suggesting this, do you have an links to sources saying these seaplanes use leaded fuels? I'm not disa

by Naac 6y ago

Other than the Hackernews comment from a couple days ago suggesting this, do you have an links to sources saying these seaplanes use leaded fuels? I'm not disagreeing, I just want to make sure we're talking about real things and not starting rumors.

andrewmunsell 6y ago
I'm not familiar with the specific model of seaplane referenced here, but 100LL avgas is commonly used in small planes (and the LL stands for low-lead) https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Avgas https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Avgas
phaemon 6y ago
Apparently they were supposed to be phased out by 2018 but it's been delayed: https://www.faa.gov/news/fact_sheets/news_story.cfm?newsId=14754 https://www.faa.gov/news/fact_sheets/news_story.cfm?newsId=1...
bluGill 6y ago
100 low-lead is a common aviation fuel. Most small aircraft use it. Piston engines generally use that, while jets of course use jet fuel. There are piston engine that run on jet fuel (often diesel), but they are rare and just starting to come out. I don't know about sea planes though. My guess is they use lead because that is the best educated guess. edit: others are claiming that these planes are mostly turboprops which would then use lead free jet fuel.
coryrc 6y ago
https://www.kuow.org/stories/electric-floatplanes-could-help-sink-two-big-pollution-problems https://www.kuow.org/stories/electric-floatplanes-could-help... Almost half Kenmore Air's fleet spews lead on us.
jacurtis 6y ago
MOST seaplanes have piston engines that use 100LL AvGas, which is a gasoline with lead in it (the LL stands for "low lead" as opposed to "unleaded" in car gas). The lead keeps airplane engines, especially older ones from knocking. These planes are DHC-2 DeHaviland Beavers, which traditionally do have radial engines that would require leaded gas. So there is some significance to the rumors. BUT... Harbour Air (the airline featured in this article) is a large seaplane airline that have converted all their Beavers to Turbo-Beavers, so they use Turbo-prop engines, which is essentially a jet engine with a propeller on the shaft instead of a fan (turbo-fan is what most commercial jetliners use, these are essentially the same type of engine but using a propeller to convert engine revolutions into propulsion as opposed to a fan). So in this case, Harbour Air's beavers actually use Jetfuel which does NOT have lead in it.
outworlder 6y ago
Yeah, most general aviation planes do. Has a lot to do with infrastructure and certification requirements. You have to modify, then re-certify the engine. Most manufacturers don't want to do that unless there's a clear benefit. Most people would prefer to use standard automotive gasoline. You can see people in the experimental/sports aircraft category rejoicing when they can find a "MoGas" pump.
dghlsakjg 6y ago
I'm unaware of ANY certified piston aircraft that don't use leaded fuel by default. Most fuel farms at airports sell 100 octane leaded fuel by default. It is normally the odd exception that sells unleaded fuel. The piston engine seaplanes will be using leaded fuel (as will any piston powered small plane with the exception of a few homebuilts and trainers). The turbine ones use regular Jet A.
- biggieshellz 6y ago
  The only one I can think of would be the Rotax 912, which is certified to run on mogas ("motor gas" / unleaded). But as you said, that's more for light sport and trainers.

by Naac 6y ago

andrewmunsell 6y ago

I'm not familiar with the specific model of seaplane referenced here, but 100LL avgas is commonly used in small planes (and the LL stands for low-lead) https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Avgas https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Avgas

phaemon 6y ago

Apparently they were supposed to be phased out by 2018 but it's been delayed: https://www.faa.gov/news/fact_sheets/news_story.cfm?newsId=14754 https://www.faa.gov/news/fact_sheets/news_story.cfm?newsId=1...

bluGill 6y ago

100 low-lead is a common aviation fuel. Most small aircraft use it. Piston engines generally use that, while jets of course use jet fuel. There are piston engine that run on jet fuel (often diesel), but they are rare and just starting to come out. I don't know about sea planes though. My guess is they use lead because that is the best educated guess. edit: others are claiming that these planes are mostly turboprops which would then use lead free jet fuel.

coryrc 6y ago

https://www.kuow.org/stories/electric-floatplanes-could-help-sink-two-big-pollution-problems https://www.kuow.org/stories/electric-floatplanes-could-help... Almost half Kenmore Air's fleet spews lead on us.

jacurtis 6y ago

MOST seaplanes have piston engines that use 100LL AvGas, which is a gasoline with lead in it (the LL stands for "low lead" as opposed to "unleaded" in car gas). The lead keeps airplane engines, especially older ones from knocking. These planes are DHC-2 DeHaviland Beavers, which traditionally do have radial engines that would require leaded gas. So there is some significance to the rumors. BUT... Harbour Air (the airline featured in this article) is a large seaplane airline that have converted all their Beavers to Turbo-Beavers, so they use Turbo-prop engines, which is essentially a jet engine with a propeller on the shaft instead of a fan (turbo-fan is what most commercial jetliners use, these are essentially the same type of engine but using a propeller to convert engine revolutions into propulsion as opposed to a fan). So in this case, Harbour Air's beavers actually use Jetfuel which does NOT have lead in it.

outworlder 6y ago

Yeah, most general aviation planes do. Has a lot to do with infrastructure and certification requirements. You have to modify, then re-certify the engine. Most manufacturers don't want to do that unless there's a clear benefit. Most people would prefer to use standard automotive gasoline. You can see people in the experimental/sports aircraft category rejoicing when they can find a "MoGas" pump.

dghlsakjg 6y ago

I'm unaware of ANY certified piston aircraft that don't use leaded fuel by default. Most fuel farms at airports sell 100 octane leaded fuel by default. It is normally the odd exception that sells unleaded fuel. The piston engine seaplanes will be using leaded fuel (as will any piston powered small plane with the exception of a few homebuilts and trainers). The turbine ones use regular Jet A.

biggieshellz 6y ago
The only one I can think of would be the Rotax 912, which is certified to run on mogas ("motor gas" / unleaded). But as you said, that's more for light sport and trainers.