|
|||||||||||
| Inside the Challenge of Creating an Unleaded Avgas | back to top |  |
||
Avgas Replacement: Drop-In Appears Unlikely
In its first interim briefing to the public, the FAA committee charged with recommending a framework for replacing leaded avgas indicated this week that a straight-up drop-in appears increasingly improbable. Both the FAA's Robert Ganley and Michael Kraft of Lycoming engines told a small audience at AOPA Summit on Thursday that an across-the-board replacement for 100LL that won't require at least some downstream changes in the distribution infrastructure looks less likely to happen now than it did a year ago. Although the Unleaded Avgas Transition rulemaking committee (UAT-ARC) isn't charged with actually finding the replacement fuel, but rather recommending a regulatory framework, its deliberations so far have revealed significant enough technical challenges to suggest existing tankage, distribution and transportation may require modifications.
For example, said Kraft, no one's sure about fuel hose compatibility for some of the candidate replacements. "This doesn't show up on an FAA certification plan, but it's a box that has to be checked." Kraft described the challenge of paving the path to a replacement fuel as "not complex," but one requiring many more steps than originally envisioned. In addition to Ganley and Kraft, AOPA's Rob Hackman was also on the reporting panel, but Thursday's briefing was short on details, which all three conceded. No formal or interim draft report will be made publically available. The UAT ARC was chartered by the FAA last January and held its first meeting in March. Thursday's briefing was in lieu of an interim report originally scheduled for AirVenture in July but derailed when Congress delayed the FAA's budget during arguments over the debt limit extension. The committee is supposed to produce by January 2012 a formal framework for finding, certifying and deploying a replacement for 100LL. For more information, listen to this AVweb podcast with Michael Kraft.
Podcast: Unleaded Avgas Ain't That EasyFile Size 6.1 MB / Running Time 5:57
Podcast Index | How to Listen | Subscribe Via RSS
Like most things in life, it's complicated to switch from 100LL to an unleaded alternative. AVweb Editorial Director Paul Bertorelli speaks with Lycoming's Michael Kraft about how the fine details make a drop-in replacement for 100LL unlikely.
This podcast is brought to you by Bose
Corporation.
|
|
|||||||||||
| Cirrus: New Horizons and a Touch of Déjà Vu | back to top | |
||
Cirrus Aims To "Go Back To Our Roots"
"We want our customers to be truly ecstatic about our products," said Dale Klapmeier, co-founder of Cirrus Aircraft, at AOPA Summit on Thursday, appearing in his new role as CEO. Klapmeier said he wants to promote GA to new customers not only because it's useful, but because it's fun. "We're in this business because having an airplane can transform your life," he said. He also said the new Chinese owners of the company, CAIGA, are reviewing the details of the Vision jet program and have not yet funded it. Pat Waddick, Cirrus COO, added, "It's a big interest for them." The jet is about three to three-and-a-half years away from being ready to start production, Waddick said.
Right now the company is working on various flight-test items for the jet. "We have fully explored the flight envelope," Waddick said. "We are doing additional natural icing testing this season. We also have a stick-pusher system that we will start testing soon." Other projects under way are materials and structures testing, and details such as the exact pitot-static-port locations. Testing of the parachute system is also continuing, he said, but it's very challenging due to the wide variations in speed and weight. It's not yet clear how to solve those issues, he said, but various possibilities are being considered. The company also announced this week that it has delivered its 5,000th piston airplane. The aircraft is on display at AirportFest at Brainard Airport, in Hartford, Conn. AVweb's Mary Grady spoke with Klapmeier at AOPA Summit on Thursday; click here for the podcast.
Podcast: A New Old Cirrus?File Size 9.5 MB / Running Time 9:10
Podcast Index | How to Listen | Subscribe Via RSS
New CEO Dale Klapmeier says the acquisition by CAIGA will free Cirrus Aircraft to fulfill its original mandate to introduce people to and to keep people in general aviation. He spoke with AVweb's Mary Grady.
This podcast is brought to you by XM WX Satellite
Weather
|
and 
|
|||||||||||
| New at the Summit: Liberty's Bristell LSA | back to top | |
||
A New LSA: Bristell From Liberty Sport Aviation
Liberty Sport Aviation brought a new LSA to the AOPA Summit in Hartford, Conn., this week, for the airplane's U.S. debut. The all-metal low-wing Bristell is built in the Czech Republic. "We were looking for something fast, fun, and easy to fly," said John Calla, of Liberty. The cockpit is a roomy 51 inches across at shoulder height, and it's covered by a clear bubble canopy. Useful load is 616 pounds, and it can carry up to 34 gallons of fuel. The demo airplane has a Rotax 912 engine, but Calla said other options will be available. The Czech manufacturer BRMAero already has built 42 copies of the design. In the U.S., it will sell for $125,000 to $150,000, Calla said.
The Bristell was designed by Milan Bristela, who also was involved in the design of the PiperSport LSA and the Evektor SportStar. Liberty is forming a new company, BristellUSA, to market the airplane. The partners plan to ensure that dealers who sell the aircraft also provide parts, support, and training, Calla said. AVweb's Mary Grady took a tour of the airplane at AOPA AirportFest, check back here for that video report later in the week. |
|
|||||||||||
| Roadable Aircraft Taxis/Drives into Hartford | back to top | |
||
Video: Terrafugia Flying Car Update
Original, Exclusive Videos from AVweb | Reader-Submitted & Viral Videos Terrafugia continues to chase the dream of a flying car. At AOPA Summit in Hartford this week, they updated AVweb on their latest version, which is soon to enter flight testing.
This video is brought to you by Bose
Corporation. |
|
|||||||||||
| More Face Time with Garmin's aera 796 | back to top | |
||
Video: Aera 796 Detailed Look
Original, Exclusive Videos from AVweb | Reader-Submitted & Viral Videos Last week, we previewed Garmin's new aera 796. (See that video here.) This week, we spent a little more time with the device at the AOPA Aviation Summit in Hartford, Connecticut.
This video is brought to you by XM WX Satellite
Weather |
and 
|
|||||||||||
| The World Outside Hartford: Beyond the Summit | back to top | |
||
Early Boeing 747-8's Not Well Received
First Cargolux Airlines on September 16 decided to delay taking delivery of the first two 747-8 freighters and now, for separate reasons, Atlas Air has canceled orders for three of jets. The 747-8 was originally scheduled to enter service two years ago but early flight tests led to a wing redesign. Cargolux based its decision on contractual issues. Atlas says the long delays and performance considerations motivated their decision. Regardless of the customer, as a result of the redesign, the very first 747-8 aircraft produced fall slightly short of the expectations originally set for the jet. But Boeing does have a solution.
Atlas expects that the 787-Fs, which make up the remainder of its order, will be better-performing than the earliest models. The company has not cancelled all the aircraft in its order and Boeing has shifted deliveries to send later models to Atlas, this year. As a result, Atlas will still take three of jets this year, four more in 2012 and two in 2013. Boeing has arranged for what were Atlas' original three aircraft to enter lease service with British Airways. According to Boeing, all the 747-8's offer double-digit improvements in fuel efficiency when compared to its predecessor, the 747-400. And retrofits will continue to improve the aircraft's specifications. |
|
|||||||||||
| The Top Reporter on Our Crack Staff ... Is You! | back to top | |
||
Survey: How's That Factory Engine Working for You?
Our sister publication, Aviation Consumer, would like to know. We're doing a survey on owner experiences with factory-new, factory-reman and factory-overhauled engines. (No field overhauls this time.)
The survey will take about five minutes, and you can take it merely by cliking this link.
AVweb's Newstips Address ...
Our best stories start with you. If you've heard something 255,000 pilots might want to know about, tell us. Submit news tips via email to newstips@avweb.com. You're a part of our team ... often, the best part. |
|
|||||||||||
| Opinion & Commentary | back to top | |
||
AVweb Insider Blog: Summer Safety Numbers -- Can't We Do Better?
Mary Grady has been looking over some numbers related to aviation safety, and in her latest post to the AVweb Insider blog, she has to say it: Maybe pilots need better ways to analyze and calculate risks.
Read more and join the conversation.
AVweb Insider Blog: Should the Reno Races Continue?
For as much as we, aviation enthusiasts, might hope so, it's not up to us. It's up to the community of Reno. Accidents like the one last week rightfully spark some inward examination of safety procedures and the risk/reward equation of doing things that are dangerous. In his latest post to the AVweb Insider blog, Paul Bertorelli has the immediate takeaway: Air shows and air races represent the tiniest of risk for spectators. But anyone who thinks the risk is non-existent should stay home.
|
|
|||||||||||
| Names Behind the News | back to top | |
||
Meet the AVwebFlash TeamAVwebFlash is a weekly summary of the latest news, articles, products, features, and events featured on AVweb, the internet's aviation magazine and news service.
The AVwebFlash team is:
Click here to send a letter to the editor. (Please let us know if your letter is not intended for publication.)
Comments or questions about the news should be sent here.
Have a product or service to advertise on AVweb? A question on marketing? Send it to AVweb's sales team.
If you're having trouble reading this newsletter in its HTML-rich format (or if you'd prefer a lighter, simpler format for your PDA or handheld device), there's also a text-only version of AVwebFlash. For complete instructions on making the switch, click here.
Aviate. Navigate. Communicate. |
