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>> Didn't they just legalize unleaded avgas very recently? More specifically, I believe they certified that a particular fuel as suitable for use in ALL engine

>> Didn't they just legalize unleaded avgas very recently? More specifically, I believe they certified that a particular fuel as suitable for use in ALL engines that previously relied on leaded fuel. Until that happened there was a somewhat legit concern about banning leaded fuel. What people are afraid of now is a monopoly on the new fuel leading to higher prices. But there's already a near monopoly on leaded avgas. It would be really cool if someone developed a new aircraft engine suitable for replacing all the old models and able to run on a wide range of fuels (this may actually exist). But even then its a slog to get that engine certified for all the planes you'd want to use it on.

marcosdumay 3y ago
> It would be really cool if someone developed a new aircraft engine suitable for replacing all the old models and able to run on a wide range of fuels As a recent article here talked about, nobody is making new aircraft for general aviation. Or at least, nobody is making anything innovative for it. But there exist plenty of engines that are good enough for planes and can run on a wide range of fuels. They are just not getting into GA planes.
- SoftTalker 3y ago
  There is some interesting stuff happening in battery-electric aircraft as trainiers. You can only fly them about 45 minutes and within a local radius of the airport but they are good for people learning the stick-and-rudder basics of flying.
  - MrDrMcCoy 3y ago
    Gliders are even better for learning flight basics, do a better job of teaching you to anticipate and work with turbulence, and have a variable time limit.
    - lazide 3y ago
      Glider hours aren't going to count towards any useful type certification though? Unless you think someone is going to be qualified on a Twin Otter because of 1000 glider hours?
      - MrDrMcCoy 3y ago
        Perhaps not for a powered aircraft cert, but it's hours towards a license.
      - marcosdumay 3y ago
        When people talk about trainer aircrafts, they aren't talking about type. None of the trainers count towards that.
- outworlder 3y ago
  Like what Diamond did with the Austro engine, which is basically a modified Mercedes engine?
SoftTalker 3y ago
> What people are afraid of now is a monopoly on the new fuel leading to higher prices If you can afford private aviation, the price of the fuel is not going to be a big concern. It's already $7-10/gallon and that is a pretty small component in the all-in hourly costs of operating an aircraft.
- lazide 3y ago
  Easy to say until it hits $50/gal (in such a putative monopoly/restricted supply situation).
mchid 3y ago
There's literally a monopoly on 100LL so what's the difference?

marcosdumay 3y ago

> It would be really cool if someone developed a new aircraft engine suitable for replacing all the old models and able to run on a wide range of fuels As a recent article here talked about, nobody is making new aircraft for general aviation. Or at least, nobody is making anything innovative for it. But there exist plenty of engines that are good enough for planes and can run on a wide range of fuels. They are just not getting into GA planes.

SoftTalker 3y ago
There is some interesting stuff happening in battery-electric aircraft as trainiers. You can only fly them about 45 minutes and within a local radius of the airport but they are good for people learning the stick-and-rudder basics of flying.
- MrDrMcCoy 3y ago
  Gliders are even better for learning flight basics, do a better job of teaching you to anticipate and work with turbulence, and have a variable time limit.
  - lazide 3y ago
    Glider hours aren't going to count towards any useful type certification though? Unless you think someone is going to be qualified on a Twin Otter because of 1000 glider hours?
    - MrDrMcCoy 3y ago
      Perhaps not for a powered aircraft cert, but it's hours towards a license.
    - marcosdumay 3y ago
      When people talk about trainer aircrafts, they aren't talking about type. None of the trainers count towards that.
outworlder 3y ago
Like what Diamond did with the Austro engine, which is basically a modified Mercedes engine?

SoftTalker 3y ago

> What people are afraid of now is a monopoly on the new fuel leading to higher prices If you can afford private aviation, the price of the fuel is not going to be a big concern. It's already $7-10/gallon and that is a pretty small component in the all-in hourly costs of operating an aircraft.

lazide 3y ago
Easy to say until it hits $50/gal (in such a putative monopoly/restricted supply situation).

mchid 3y ago

There's literally a monopoly on 100LL so what's the difference?