Why I became a Sport Fuel Dealer

Michael Bennett of Turlock, California, describes why he decided to become a Sport Fuel dealer, the first one in his state to offer ethanol-free autogas.

"In December of 2010, I began working on my engine overhaul and as time went on I began to explore using autogas in my 1959 C182B with a low compression TCM O-470-L. Surely, my plane could handle this cheaper fuel. Little did I realize the main issue I would face...availability in California. I began to look for FBOs here that would willingly embrace what I though was a no-brainer. The demand is there, so what's to stop me from finding uncontaminated (ethanol-free) autogas? Many fuel suppliers appear intoxicated by this ethanol issue. They fought it at first, but now that they give us 'watered-down' stuff at the same price, and get taxpayers to add to their bottom line, they love it!"

"After finding various websites that exposed this fraud, I personally believe the way to go is using premium autogas without ethanol. It should be cheaper that 100LL and be a better choice for our environment. As pilots we need to come together, get off the dime and tell all the FBOs that if you don’t put in a autogas dispenser, we will do it for you. And that is what I will do at my airport in Turlock, CA (O15). It is a great place to base a plane, 8 miles east of the city. We have a unique set-up at Turlock as the city owns it from the war assets 'give-away' but it is in the county of Merced. The TRAA (Turlock Regional Aviation Association) operates it by contract from the city. The FAA has spent funds to improve the surface and taxiways and more is in the works.

The guys (and gals) behind the Sport Fuel concept are great to work with. Kent Misegades has been very helpful in providing guidance and helping me realize the vision. I could have gone it alone, but would be re-inventing the wheel and have no marketing support so I am super happy so far. People are trying to track me down and pick my brain on this. Good thing Kent is there to help. I hope to have the fuel ready to sell by mid-August this year. The permits, permissions, and blessings from all are underway and my motivation is high. I do get some pessimists that for whatever reason like to say it won’t work...can’t make any money. To them I say, nothing ventured, nothing gained!"

For those interested in buying Sport Fuel autogas in Turlock, located in California's Central Valley near Yosemite National Park, contact Mike Bennett at mlbennett@sbcglobal.net.

If you'd like to get Sport Fuel onto your airport, or have any fuel equipment needs, contact Kent Misegades at kent@ufuel.com

650 million engines need Sport Fuel

Consider these numbers:  According to GAMA, there are approximately 165,000 piston-engine aircraft registered today in the United States.  Since 1982, some 65,000 autogas STCs have been sold by Petersen Aviation and the EAA . While still a small part of the GA fleet, there are now around 2,000 new LSAs registered, and nearly all of these use engines designed to run on autogas.  Fuel is sold at approximately 3,500 FBOs on the 13,000+ airports registered in the US. Autogas is currently sold at only slightly more than 100 of these airports. 

By contrast, in 2006, the US DOT reported approximately 251 million registered passenger vehicles that purchase fuel at over 110,000 gas stations. It is estimated that nearly all of these vehicles are affected negatively by the presence of ethanol in fuel, with problems ranging from lower fuel mileage to serious damage caused to their fuel components. Especially sensitive are vehicles without modern computer-controlled fuel injection and mixtrure controls. The situation is even more serious for off-highway engines found in boats, ATVs, snowmobiles, power tools, etc.

Of the nation's 17 million pleasure boaters, 16 million tow their boats to water and purchase fuel at the local gas station.  Most of these use outboard motors that can suffer serious damage when ethanol blends are used. All told, it has been estimated that nearly 650 million engines in vehicles and other machinery are negatively impacted by the presence of ethanol in fuel. For airports who are able to think outside the fence when offering U-Fuel's aviation-quality, ethanol-free Sport Fuel brand of autogas, there is a huge potential for fuel sales. 

If only 1% of the the owners of these 650 million engines were to seek out the fuel at their local airport, this would represent millions of new customers for struggling airports. An added benefit would be the opportunity to introduce the pleasures of aviation to a sector of the population that might never otherwise stop by their local aifield. These same people will be impressed that their local airport is doing something to reduce lead emissions from our aicraft.

Aviation 101 - Recent GAfuels Postings

Two AFC Directors, Dean Billing of Sisters, OR and Kent Misegades of Cary, NC, co-author the GAfuels blog at General Aviation News. Below are links to some of their recent postings on issues related to aviation fuels.

Three typical autogas users, May 25, 2011

Tecnam's all-autogas fleet, May 17th, 2011

Warbirds, airshows and autogas, May 16th, 2011

Autogas returns to Norridgewock, April 28, 2011

Autogas for everyone: Part I, April 11, 2011

Autogas for everyone: Part II, April 14, 2011

Autogas for everone: Part III, April 20, 2011