$50,000 saved through autogas use

AFC Director Todd Petersen, owner of autogas STC holder Petersen Aviation, recently received this message from 1962 Cessna 182 owner Craig Teerlink of Cedar Hills, UT: "I'm a very satisfied customer of a Petersen MoGas STC, purchased about 15 years ago for N3118Y.  I've put about 2500 hours on my C182E since then, using MoGas about 80% of the time. Bottom line, my MoGas STC is very valuable to me.  I figure it's saved me something approaching $50k so far." Craig's is no ordinary C182, as one can read here. "I’m the owner of an older model C182 with about 7000 hours on it. Owner/pilot is ATP ASMEL and CFI/CFII/MEI with about 6500 hours TT. The plane has seen extensive range; it’s flown over the northern polar ice cap, and as far south as South America. It flies coast to coast several times each year as well as Mexico and Central America. However, most flights are in the western United States." Congratulations Craig on a great machine and your good news on the savings you have seen using lead-free autogas.

Charleston Executive Airport installs first U-Fuel box station

U-Fuel, a leading supplier of fuel stations to the aviation industry and sponsor of the Aviation Fuel Club, announced this week the installation of its first advanced “box” station at the Atlantic Aviation FBO at the Charleston Executive Airport (KJZI), Charleston, SC. First announced in 2011, U-Fuel's patented box systems represent the state of the art in self-service aviation fuel stations, placing all critical components and the fuel tank within a strong fire-resistant panel enclosure, providing an unprecedented level of fire safety and isolation from the environment. Pre-engineered and pre-fabricated, these highly-affordable systems can be easily trucked to an airport and installed within a few days. They are available as single- or two-product systems with tank capacities from 1,000-10,000 gallons.  For details, contact Kent Misegades, Aviation & Marine Sales, U-Fuel.

U2OSH UPDATE

Aviation fuel equipment maker and AFC sponsor U-Fuel has kindly offered the use of its booth at EAA AirVenure 2012 as the official headquarters for Unleaded to Oshksoh - U2OSH.  The company's display will be booth number #339, next to American Legend Aircraft Company, which can be seen on this diagram of the AirVenture grounds near Phillips 66 Plaza. A forum celebrating the 30th anniversary of the FAA's first approval of an autogas STC will take place on Thursday morning, July 26th. Awards to record-setting pilots flying to Oshkosh using autogas will be presented at ths event. To participate in U2OSH, one only needs to arrive at Oshkosh in an aircraft capable of operating on autogas via a TC, STC or in an experimental. A map  of airports near Oshkosh selling autogas may be found at this link.

The engines of AERO

AERO Friedrichshafen is Europe's largest General Aviation trade show, held annually on the spectacular Lake Constance where the borders of Germany, Switzerland and Austria meet on the northern slopes of the Alps. The area is also the 2nd home of AFC Director Kent Misegades, where he began his career as an aerospace engineer, working for Germany's Dornier in the early 1980s. Kent attended AERO this past April, and recently reported in General Aviation News on all the engines he saw on display there. Of special note was the fact that nearly all operate on autogas or jet fuel, in the case of diesel engines, which are becoming mainstream poweplants in Europe, especially in the sleek composite designs from  Diamond Aircraft of Wiener Neustadt, Austria. Clearly European manufacturers are already prepared for a lead-free aviation fuel future. The fact that 50% of the fuel used in Germany, according to a recent EASA report, is autogas, also means that European pilots are enjoying a relatively inexpensive, lead-free fuel compared to the price of avgas at their airports.

Shell SAB Q109 on autogas

Recently an airport commissioner in North Carolina contacted us regarding plans to add autogas as a means to lower the cost of flying and increase overall activity at his airport. A large Shell-branded avgas supplier based in his state refused to provide autogas, but the commissioner was able to find a local fuel jobber who was happy to bring 93 AKI ethanol-free fuel to this small airport, even in small quantities of a few thousand gallons. At this time, the airport’s avgas supplier provided the commissioner with Shell Aviation Bulletin SAB Q109, which originated in the company’s U.K. office in 2009. An article authored by Shell’s Technology Manager for Aviation Fuel, Rob Midgley, starts with the bold headline “Motor Gasoline — The Dangers in Aviation Use.” The airport commissioner recently sent us SAB Q109 and asked us to comment on its accuracy.  You'll find our lengthy discussion on the many inaccuracies found in this document at this link.

Currituck County adds autogas

One of the most picturesque flying routes down the eastern U.S. coast is over North Carolina’s spectacular Outer Banks. Pilots making the trip now have an even greater reason to overfly the northern end of the Banks since the Currituck County Regional Airport (KONX) added lead-free, ethanol free autogas last month. According to Airport Commissioner Ed Ish, “We wanted to do something to increase flying activity and decided to get autogas back onto our airfield. We found a supplier in Jernigan Oil of Ahoski, N.C.” Jim Elliott, retired USCG pilot and the airport’s manager, reported that the fuel is 93AKI and is initially priced at $4.49 from the airport’s self-service fuel station.  Avgas sells for $5.35 at the same airport. Congratulations to Jim Elliott and Ed Ish for providing a more affordable, lead-free aviation fuel to the many pilots on the east coast who can burn it. You’ll find this airport among those listed here, as well as on an interactive map, both maintained by AFC Director Dean Billing.

Petersen Aviation offers autogas placards

With the increased interest in autogas has come requests from AFC members for placards to corrrectly label fuel tanks. Since these are not available from the usual aviation supply companies, AFC Director Todd Petersen decided to offer them. He'll make them available for $12.50 each to anyone interested. If you would like one, contact him at this link.

Aviation Fuels 101 - Recent News from GAfuels

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.

MoGas flying higher as avgas price rises, May 9th, 2012 (courtesy Dan Johnson's Splog)

The engines of AERO Part II, May 8th, 2012

Currituck County adds autogas, May 2nd, 2012

In defense of autogas, April 30th, 2012

The engines of AERO Friedrichshafen, April 22nd, 2012

Autogas expert Harry Zeisloft dies, April 15th, 2012

UL91 explained, April 9th, 2012