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Any GA pilots or CFIs on the board?

Discussion in 'Fred's House of Pancakes' started by Leadfoot J. McCoalroller, May 15, 2023.

  1. Leadfoot J. McCoalroller

    Leadfoot J. McCoalroller Senior Member

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    Just curious.

    I turned 50 last month, have "pilot's license" vaguely on the bucket list. It's already a bit marginal that I'd pass the medical.

    A long time ago, I swore that I would not put a milligram of lead in the air for the vanity of a license, so I've been waiting for the industry to un-f itself and get with the program for an unleaded future. New fuels or electric or what-have-you, doesn't much matter as long as we dump the leadburners.

    I'm reading that there are now some unleaded fuels somewhat available and fully approved for many Lycoming and Continental engines, but I haven't yet heard of any flight schools running these in their trainers.

    Interested to hear ideas and opinions for perspective.
     
    #1 Leadfoot J. McCoalroller, May 15, 2023
  2. PriusCamper

    PriusCamper Senior Member

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    I watch all the videos of space flight historian Scott Manly on YouTube and he documented his pilot license efforts very thoroughly and if any state would be moving to unleaded fuel faster than other states it'd be California, which is where he did it... He's also the kind of YouTuber that replies to people who message him so I bet if you contacted him as directly as possible through his socials, he'd have an answer.

     
    #2 PriusCamper, May 15, 2023
  3. bwilson4web

    bwilson4web BMW i3 and Model 3

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    Mine:
    upload_2023-5-16_2-4-22.png

    Bob Wilson
     
    #3 bwilson4web, May 16, 2023
  4. Trollbait

    Trollbait It's a D&D thing

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    You still have that experimental biplane?
     
    #4 Trollbait, May 16, 2023
  5. bwilson4web

    bwilson4web BMW i3 and Model 3

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    More precise, one wing in front and the other behind the cabin. Google “Viking Dragonfly”

    Bob Wilson
     
    #5 bwilson4web, May 16, 2023
  6. Trollbait

    Trollbait It's a D&D thing

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    #6 Trollbait, May 16, 2023
  7. hkmb

    hkmb Senior Member

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    You might enjoy this report if you don't want to be using leaded fuel. Not much in the way of range, but a lot of performance.

     
    #7 hkmb, May 18, 2023
  8. bwilson4web

    bwilson4web BMW i3 and Model 3

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    #8 bwilson4web, May 19, 2023
  9. tochatihu

    tochatihu Senior Member

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    Here's a low-time ASEL with long-lapsed medical. Most fun were Cessna 208 Caravan and vintage T-6 Texan. For completely different reasons! Actually doing soft-field work in an old 152 was a lot of fun. It's all fun.

    If I re entered the game now it would be with light sport aircraft (and in a different country :rolleyes:). Good designs and sensible fueling options. The Shark UL is a zippy thing. Comfortable enough to have made a round the world flight. With many stops of course for tanks to be filled and others drained.

    Light sport pilot training is less extensive/expensive than entry level general aviation (this is not necessarily a good thing). Older GA models like Cessnas Pipers and Grumman Cheetah :) can sell for USD$50K. Recurring costs for insurance and annuals is what one needs to plan for in all cases.

    For flying experiences without ownership I suggest joining the Commemorative Air Force. They have a uniquely historically impressive fleet. That's where I learned from T-6 what responsiveness to control inputs really means. And they have some Mustangs, but good luck getting your hands on those as a low-timer.

    Very timely thread. I was thinking of starting one myself. Interested people span interest groups that tangle in 'politics' section. Too much convective available potential energy there though. Here we can relax and talk about the fun.
     
    #9 tochatihu, May 20, 2023
  10. Leadfoot J. McCoalroller

    Leadfoot J. McCoalroller Senior Member

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    It really is just a checkmark to be made on a list for me. I've noodled around with enough flight simulators to know that I can't afford the planes that can go where and when I want to go, so I'll still be buying tickets for transportation.

    I can already afford to go to the local flight instructor and do it that way, but that FBO does not offer these new 94UL fuels and that school isn't equipped with mogas-rated sport-pilot trainers. I can't currently afford to travel to a distant school for this pursuit. A lot of what I was hoping to learn through this discussion was rate-of-adoption of the new fuels.

    If I discover that it just isn't practical to get an unleaded license within my lifetime, that is an acceptable outcome. I think the bandaid needs to be torn off with many old airplanes shredded or permanently rolled into museums if they can't be modified to run clean. I'm motivated to reward an early-adopter flight school and disinclined to support the ones clinging to the past.
     
    #10 Leadfoot J. McCoalroller, May 21, 2023
    Trollbait likes this.
  11. ETC(SS)

    ETC(SS) The OTHER One Percenter.....

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    I suspect that regulatory dragons will be slain and power plants upgraded before all of those old planes get the Captain Crunch treatment.
     
    #11 ETC(SS), May 21, 2023
  12. Leadfoot J. McCoalroller

    Leadfoot J. McCoalroller Senior Member

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    That's the line that has been going around for the past 15 years or so.
     
    #12 Leadfoot J. McCoalroller, May 21, 2023
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