[phkahler]

>> Didn't they just legalize unleaded avgas very recently?

More specifically, I believe they certified that a particular fuel as suitable for use in ALL engines that previously relied on leaded fuel. Until that happened there was a somewhat legit concern about banning leaded fuel. What people are afraid of now is a monopoly on the new fuel leading to higher prices. But there's already a near monopoly on leaded avgas.

It would be really cool if someone developed a new aircraft engine suitable for replacing all the old models and able to run on a wide range of fuels (this may actually exist). But even then its a slog to get that engine certified for all the planes you'd want to use it on.

[SoftTalker]

> What people are afraid of now is a monopoly on the new fuel leading to higher prices

If you can afford private aviation, the price of the fuel is not going to be a big concern. It's already $7-10/gallon and that is a pretty small component in the all-in hourly costs of operating an aircraft.

[lazide]

Easy to say until it hits $50/gal (in such a putative monopoly/restricted supply situation).

[marcosdumay]

> It would be really cool if someone developed a new aircraft engine suitable for replacing all the old models and able to run on a wide range of fuels

As a recent article here talked about, nobody is making new aircraft for general aviation. Or at least, nobody is making anything innovative for it.

But there exist plenty of engines that are good enough for planes and can run on a wide range of fuels. They are just not getting into GA planes.

[SoftTalker]

There is some interesting stuff happening in battery-electric aircraft as trainiers. You can only fly them about 45 minutes and within a local radius of the airport but they are good for people learning the stick-and-rudder basics of flying.

[MrDrMcCoy]

Gliders are even better for learning flight basics, do a better job of teaching you to anticipate and work with turbulence, and have a variable time limit.

[lazide]

Glider hours aren't going to count towards any useful type certification though? Unless you think someone is going to be qualified on a Twin Otter because of 1000 glider hours?

[marcosdumay]

When people talk about trainer aircrafts, they aren't talking about type. None of the trainers count towards that.

[MrDrMcCoy]

Perhaps not for a powered aircraft cert, but it's hours towards a license.

[outworlder]

Like what Diamond did with the Austro engine, which is basically a modified Mercedes engine?

[mchid]

There's literally a monopoly on 100LL so what's the difference?