Mapleflt wrote:That Solar is a bit of a dinosaur from a design point of view.

I like the look of this product but it's pricy....

https://www.pbsaerospace.com/aerospace- ... aft-engine

I like old proven designs, playing Oregon trail on a floppy disk as a kid I learned that being a pioneer can be kinda risky


Also the T-62 can be had for like 15k

https://www.2040-parts.com/solar-t62-2a ... -i2318612/


The one you posted won’t even mention price, which is often one of those “if you have to ask”



The issue isn’t how old of a design it is, it’s just the nature of the beast, a turbine in a small low level flying fixed wing just burns far too much fuel to be practical for anything other than novelty factor



Much like 100LL folks have to be like

“Hey Bob, you know that thing that has been working great for a really long time?”

“Yeah?”

“Let’s go mess with it till it doesn’t work anymore”

Guess I'll just keep burning 100LL it will likely be around at least until I can't hold a medical any longer.

You don't just have to worry if the engine is gonna like it....slow drip of whatever was put in the tank instead of 100LL.

Karmutzen wrote:You don't just have to worry if the engine is gonna like it....slow drip of whatever was put in the tank instead of 100LL.

IMG_1586.jpeg

wtf?!

So the 100LL “replacement” ate through the paint? Did it also get through the silver coat?

That’s some significant damage

I am really looking forward to getting rid of the lead. The reason we have to change oil at no more than 50 hrs (30 is more appropriate) is because of the lead build up. Same goes for spark plug cleaning. Oil changes are a pain for planes that fly a lot. 100 hrs would be amazing. I can barely get two trips across the country in a Cirrus before oil changes.

50 cents or even a dollar a gallon more is easily worth it.

That said I am worried this stuff seems to eat some paints and potentially other things on airplanes.

PIREP #2, after burning thru a tank with G100UL, (55 gallons G100UL and 25 Gallons 100LL) I only noticed my EGT's were a bit higher which GAMI states on their web site. Other wise nothing stood out good or bad.

20 years ago new long range fuel bladders were installed and I purchased the plane 18 years ago. After landing and during taxi I frequently notice fuel weeping from the fuel vents until about half way to my hangar and it stops. The tanks are being pressurized and the check valve and the weep hole are doing their job. I have a fuel totalizer supporting that the slight weeping is minor and not noticed on the totalizer. However, I need to adjust the position of the vents behind the strut. They are close to specs, but not dead on. So why am I going on about weeping? Well after the flights with the G100UL, the underside of the wings I noticed fuel stains of brown/yellow spots/streaks about 12 inches wide all the way to the flaps. I carry Windex as suggested by George Braly and most was cleaned off but a 5x12 inch section required compound to remove. PROs, It's unleaded and I experienced no issues for one tank usage. CONs #1- I do not like that the fuel stains. #2- I do not like the turpentine smell of the fuel. #3- The fuel strainer and the wood dowels that I dip my tanks with are kept in my seat back and stink after usage and I left them on my work bench after using. #4- the fuel does not evaporate. I will not be purchasing more G100UL.

Last Wednesday I was at San Carlos (SQL), 12 miles south of SFO ARPT and met with Rabbit Aviation who as of last week has two stand alone above ground tanks of Swift 100R unleaded fuel being exclusively used in the 12 C172's R/S models with 8.5:1 compression that San Carlos Flight Center operates. These two Cessna models are the only approved STC for the use of 100R. Rabbit Aviation was very gracious and filled my mason jar with the Swift 100R unleaded. The fuel evaporates and smells like nail polish, both made me smile as I put the fuel on my cars paint while in the parking lot and it evaporated. It reportedly does not stain paint and my tests show no staining.

Today G100UL will be available at Watsonville (26 miles S of San Jose) Same promotion of no cost STC's for airport tenets similar to RHV on Nov 2nd. 25 gallons free (after STC purchase) to pilots from nearby airports.

Happy week before Thanksgiving, go fly!!

Thanks for the Swift 100R info. I didn't realize any was being used in real life circumstances. I'm in several ethanol plants and my share is close to a quarter million gallons per year. That can be used and is used in Brazil but doesn't go as far per gallon. Don't seem to hear anythng about AGE-85 anymore that is also 100 octane. I think the Swift can come from corn also in a different process so is renewable. Just skimmed Swift 100R weighs a pound more than 100LL but also has more energy so will go farther.

IMO Mostly fact based opinion here.

Fact.I am so thankful I can burn mogas. Legally Peterson STC. $3.89 a gallon now. I don't care what they do in Europe. They are not who I want to emulate.

The lead thing is BS (IMO). Not enough being burned to make a difference (IMO). As we used to say in the fire department. Fact. Dilution is the solution to pollution. You put a little 100LL gas fumes into a whole lot of atmosphere and it gets diluted. To the point it makes no difference.

Fact. This is a political problem not a health problem. There is 1 political party driving these so called green mandates. Y'all know which one. The same party who whines about the evil corporations making money off the new so call better gas. They will never be satisfied, until we are living in the dark in mud huts.

So you can rationalize why it is a good thing all you want. It doesn't change the fact this is a political football. Y'all entitled to your opinion. September 30, 1938 Neville Chamberlain said "Peace in our time" We all know how that worked out. Fact. Appeasing fanatics is rarely a good idea.

Another fact. The government agency (EPA, FAA, BATF) cubical dwellers do not care what we say here. What will be will be. Maybe just maybe backing off Chevron deference will take some power from federal agency's and give choice back to we the people.


T T T T T T T T T T T

Thanks Oregon Maule. Don't disagree with any of that. I can't get past the fuel staining problem and paying for the STC on top of $1-$2/gal is a deal breaker for me. I am also not convinced by Braly's explanation on Beechtalk of G100UL taking out the AOPA fuel bladder.

limerick wrote:PIREP #2, after burning thru a tank with G100UL, (55 gallons G100UL and 25 Gallons 100LL) I only noticed my EGT's were a bit higher which GAMI states on their web site. Other wise nothing stood out good or bad.

20 years ago new long range fuel bladders were installed and I purchased the plane 18 years ago. After landing and during taxi I frequently notice fuel weeping from the fuel vents until about half way to my hangar and it stops. The tanks are being pressurized and the check valve and the weep hole are doing their job. I have a fuel totalizer supporting that the slight weeping is minor and not noticed on the totalizer. However, I need to adjust the position of the vents behind the strut. They are close to specs, but not dead on. So why am I going on about weeping? Well after the flights with the G100UL, the underside of the wings I noticed fuel stains of brown/yellow spots/streaks about 12 inches wide all the way to the flaps. I carry Windex as suggested by George Braly and most was cleaned off but a 5x12 inch section required compound to remove. PROs, It's unleaded and I experienced no issues for one tank usage. CONs #1- I do not like that the fuel stains. #2- I do not like the turpentine smell of the fuel. #3- The fuel strainer and the wood dowels that I dip my tanks with are kept in my seat back and stink after usage and I left them on my work bench after using. #4- the fuel does not evaporate. I will not be purchasing more G100UL.

Last Wednesday I was at San Carlos (SQL), 12 miles south of SFO ARPT and met with Rabbit Aviation who as of last week has two stand alone above ground tanks of Swift 100R unleaded fuel being exclusively used in the 12 C172's R/S models with 8.5:1 compression that San Carlos Flight Center operates. These two Cessna models are the only approved STC for the use of 100R. Rabbit Aviation was very gracious and filled my mason jar with the Swift 100R unleaded. The fuel evaporates and smells like nail polish, both made me smile as I put the fuel on my cars paint while in the parking lot and it evaporated. It reportedly does not stain paint and my tests show no staining.

Today G100UL will be available at Watsonville (26 miles S of San Jose) Same promotion of no cost STC's for airport tenets similar to RHV on Nov 2nd. 25 gallons free (after STC purchase) to pilots from nearby airports.

Happy week before Thanksgiving, go fly!!

Thanks for the report, Limerick. I've bought both STCs, as my plane requires 100 octane fuel. I don't like the prospect of paint staining by G100UL, but unless and until Swift's 100R has been certified for my engine and airframe, G100UL is the only game in town if 100ll goes away. I'll apply another coat of Rejex to my wings and carry the rag and Windex for the inevitable spills.

I agree with all that Rob says. The only way I see 100ll remaining available in the long run is if the Air Division of EPA is radically reformed (i.e., gutted) and the Endangerment Finding is withdrawn or overturned by a court. One can hope, but it still seems like a longshot.


CAVU

CAVU wrote:I agree with all that Rob says. The only way I see 100ll remaining available in the long run is if the Air Division of EPA is radically reformed (i.e., gutted) and the Endangerment Finding is withdrawn or overturned by a court. One can hope, but it still seems like a longshot.CAVU

Well come January there will be a new sheriff in town.

Without the Alphabet Groups' support, I don't see it happening (and I don't see them suddenly growing a spine). But hope springs eternal.

CAVU