So let’s solve that problem.
I don’t know what else we as pilots can do beyond requesting unleaded to be sold by the FBOs we do business with. From the discussions here and elsewhere about G100UL and UL94, it’s an executive-level issue. We can make our voice heard, but unless nearly every pilot who flies a gasoline burner insists on unleaded and refuses to buy 100LL, we’re not going to spur much progress.
Many pilots and owners - and not just the folks posting in forums, but many who I’ve spoken with in person - don’t care about or are highly skeptical of unleaded avgas. A lot of them earnestly believe that lead is absolutely critical to their valves’ survival.
And then there are the businesses involved in selling it. The fuel distributor who delivers to our airpark had no idea that unleaded avgas was under development. He’d never heard of G100UL or 94UL, and basically said it’ll be bad for our engines. Our next conversation was a couple months later, and he’d not even looked into it. Same with some FBOs - no knowledge or interest.
The other issue is price. Where 94UL can be found, it’s quite a bit more than 100LL - more than two bucks a gallon more at the only place anywhere near me. Even with increased oil change intervals and less spark plug cleaning, it’s a hard sell just on dollars and cents.
If unleaded was available, I’d switch. If the cost at the end of the year is comparable. I’d love to have a cleaner engine, exhaust and belly, and go to 100 hour oil changes and potentially longer TBOs/valve work. But at flying only 100-ish hours a year, that cost will be spread across another 10+ years in my last plane before it needs a major, and 20 to 25 in a fresh engine, versus stinging my wallet hard every time I fuel up.
I’d be surprised if the competing companies and (dis)interested retailers can agree on anything anytime soon. We might think that as diehard fans, we have a say in our favorite team’s roster and schedule, but it’s the team owners who run baseball. The other 90% are the casual fans and contribute more money to the revenue stream.