Another unleaded 100LL replacement approved (Swift 100R)

It's a start- just two models for now.
This seems promising, from the same article
A third unleaded avgas candidate—UL100E—is undergoing full-scale engine and airframe testing under the FAA’s Piston Engine Aviation Fuels Initiative, which could lead to the agency granting fleetwide authorization for its use in 2025.
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how many gallons of G100UL have been sold so far?
 
Cool!

How long until we start seeing exhaust gas sensors and FADEC with true closed-loop control?
 
2016
www.pilotsofamerica.com

Auto-lean in a Mooney M20

What do you think about auto lean taking care of business for you?
www.pilotsofamerica.com www.pilotsofamerica.com

2018
www.aopa.org

Lean on me

The optimum air/fuel ratios for piston-engine power and efficiency have been known for decades—but aircraft engine gauges don’t display them. Pilots monitor exhaust gas temperatures, fuel flows, and cylinder head temperatures—all indirect indications of the air/fuel ratio (AFR). Things get even...
www.aopa.org
 
StraightnLevel said:
Cool!

How long until we start seeing exhaust gas sensors and FADEC with true closed-loop control?
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Just to remind everyone... there is at least one progressive piston GA manufacturer... full FADEC is found in the Diamond DA40NG, DA42, DA50, and DA62 models (all with diesel engines burning JetA).
Wayne
 
What the industry is really waiting on is blanket approval of a drop in replacement for 100LL, no STC or paperwork needed. Something that an FBO could just start ordering tomorrow instead of 100LL.

However I don't think the FAA or manufacturers have the stomach for it, no one wants to be liable for even one incident that could be remotely traced back to UL.
 
StraightnLevel said:
The fact that aviation is currently 50+ years behind every other industry that uses internal combustion engines is not a reason to block progress.
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And both Continental and Lycoming have gone there, and no one wanted to buy them
 
midwestpa24 said:
What the industry is really waiting on is blanket approval of a drop in replacement for 100LL, no STC or paperwork needed. Something that an FBO could just start ordering tomorrow instead of 100LL.

However I don't think the FAA or manufacturers have the stomach for it, no one wants to be liable for even one incident that could be remotely traced back to UL.
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That is not going to happen, because the FAA doesn't have the authority to do that. And the type certificates call for ASTM 910 fuel, which requires it to contain lead.

Even Swift is going STC. But they also say it won't work in all the fleet anyway. Not very drop in.

Also, interested thread comments over on BT. The supercharge rating (the second number in 80/87, 91/96, 100/130, and 115/145) is something over 150 for G100UL, raising the possibility to run higher boost for turbo charged engines for take off and other full throttle operations. Meaning more HP.
 
Pinecone said:
And both Continental and Lycoming have gone there, and no one wanted to buy them
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Sure, but when you don't have the right fuel for the control system, why would you buy?

UL fuel is the catalyst required to open the door to engine controls from this century, as opposed to our current prior-century lumps.
 
Im ready for a different fuel. I run as lean as I can with a carb and I still had lead fouling on my plugs when I checked them on my annual today. The pugs were easily cleaned with a piece of safety wire but my borescope pictures show lead deposits on the inside. I my start using Rec gas as they call it here in Michigan. No alcohol. I use it in my mowers and motorcycle. Might as well go in the plane too.
 
sansoneservices said:
Anyone hear of pricing? Anyone see swift offered at airports?
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Swift's UL94 is available at a few airports near me, but I'm pretty sure that is the exception rather than the rule.
 
StraightnLevel said:
Sure, but when you don't have the right fuel for the control system, why would you buy?

UL fuel is the catalyst required to open the door to engine controls from this century, as opposed to our current prior-century lumps.
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Well that, and the fact that the manufacturers like Cessna/Piper are some of the largest consumers of the Conti/Lyco engines and they'd have to do a good bit of recertification/design work in order to retrofit their aircraft to a FADEC engine. On an Experimental or a model refresh the paperwork hurdles would already be accounted for.
 
Check this out!! Bring your own fuel without hogging your truck bed all the time! https://generalaviationnews.com/2024/10/22/stop-lugging-gas-cans

2024_10_22_general_aviation_news_product_annoucement_b3e360b9081ad6710452ba1460958301620121d4.jpg

Website for the product in their announcement is here: https://smartassproducts.net/collections
 
Dana said:
Pricey...
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That was my thought, too. But AvGas at my field is ~$5.50, and mogas is ~$4.00, so the payoff (for me) would be about 450 hrs. Depending on how often you fly, that could be <4 years or forever.

But there's still the hassle of hauling it back and forth to the gas station...
 
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Jim_R said:
That was my thought, too. But AvGas at my field is ~$5.50, and mogas is ~$4.00, so the payoff would be about 450 hrs. Depending on how often you fly, that could be <4 years or forever.

But there's still the hassle of hauling it back and forth to the gas station...
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This seems like a really useful tool for someone who needs a unique fuel, or often flies out of a strip without fuel service.
 
Jim_R said:
That was my thought, too. But AvGas at my field is ~$5.50, and mogas is ~$4.00, so the payoff would be about 450 hrs. Depending on how often you fly, that could be <4 years or forever.

But there's still the hassle of hauling it back and forth to the gas station...
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And the fact that your airport may not allow it in the hangar.
 
I use UL 94 when I can find it,it is also priced much higher than 100 ll.
 
tspear said:
Why unique fuel? What about those who want to burn mogas?
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I'm having a hard time seeing it make sense financially and effort-wise unless you have no choice but to use a fuel that is not available at your home field.

Wouldn't it make more sense to get 55 gal drums delivered to your hangar?
 
StraightnLevel said:
I'm having a hard time seeing it make sense financially and effort-wise unless you have no choice but to use a fuel that is not available at your home field.

Wouldn't it make more sense to get 55 gal drums delivered to your hangar?
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I priced those once. It almost ends up being as expensive as avgas. Delivery is not cheap.
If you can burn mogas, not only is the cost per gallon lower. But the engine will last longer, just look at the savings on mogas with a Rotax. Oil change intervals almost double, engine last longer, cheaper overhaul....

Tim
 
Jim_R said:
That was my thought, too. But AvGas at my field is ~$5.50, and mogas is ~$4.00, so the payoff (for me) would be about 450 hrs. Depending on how often you fly, that could be <4 years or forever.

But there's still the hassle of hauling it back and forth to the gas station...
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I use one on Lake Lanier to fuel my wakeboat. I burn about 100 gallons/week on average, two fillups, about 6 months out of the year. Fuel is $2-$2.50 more per gallon at the marina versus at the local street pump. Saves me over $5000 every year.

As for the hassle-- I minimize that by loading it in the truck (which is easy) on Monday, filling it at my convenience when I'm passing a gas station while I'm out and about during the week, and bringing it home and putting it next to the house. Then I've got 50 gallons on tap for the first need of a fillup that weekend, and I'm back on the water in 5 minutes or so.
 
Found this site lately which you guys might find handy if you're not already aware of it.

Pure-gas.org - ethanol-free gasoline in the U.S. and Canada

Pure-gas.org is the definitive web site listing stations that sell pure gasoline in the U.S. and Canada.
www.pure-gas.org www.pure-gas.org

Lists thousands of gas stations all across the country that sell ethanol-free fuel/mogas.
 
Capt. Geoffrey Thorpe said:
You gotta FIGHT for your RIGHT to BURN LEAD!
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You got friends in California but you don’t wanna go
You told them “fly commercial” but they still said “no”
Set a course for Santa Monica, but just a low pass
You’re looking for a source of real blue avgas

You’ve gotta fight, for your right, to buuuuuurn lead
 
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