How do you handle filling your LSA with auto-gas?

[CTLSi]

......

[Nomore767]

......and I'm not putting anything else in a small engine. I'm even thinking of buying a Skycatcher. At least I'll feel safer as far as fuel (100 av gas) is concerned. My reasoning is that I'll be using a fuel that was designed around the engine. I know its not "perfect" and I'd much rather not pay the weight penalty. Rotax, UL, and HKS were all designed around the Eurozone 95 and 98 octane auto fuel (lead free & ethanol free). Why can't we have the same here? California fuel in Rotax creates so many problems.

I suppose it depends on where you live.

Here in South Carolina close to me are a few gas stations that sell 93 Non-ethanol at the pump and one airport, Barnwell, that has a self-serve 93 Non-ethanol pump.
In case you don't, E10 is approved in some models. It's the plane that you have to look at more than the Rotax.

[AJChenMPH]

One thing I'm still not clear on: if the tiedown point on the ramp is metal, can you hook up a grounding wire to that? And then with being in contact with the plane's skin, you're good to go?

[CharlieTango]

One thing I'm still not clear on: if the tiedown point on the ramp is metal, can you hook up a grounding wire to that? And then with being in contact with the plane's skin, you're good to go?

If that did provide a ground you would still be lacking a bond between the plane and the fuel source.

[Jim Stewart]

California fuel in Rotax creates so many problems.

Cite please???

[CTLSi]

......

[AJChenMPH]

Fun huh? Maybe it's just easier to use a plastic five gallon container and spill fuel all over the aircraft? And pull your back out while lifting it up?

Errrrrrr...whoops. I was actually asking within the context of using 5-gallon gascans to fuel the aircraft.

[BrianL99]

Why does an aircraft need "grounding" when fueling and a car, boat or otherwise, doesn't ?

[CharlieTango]

Why does an aircraft need "grounding" when fueling and a car, boat or otherwise, doesn't ?

At the gas station for your car the pumps are well grounded and the nozzle touching your gas fill provides the bond.

Static, sparks and fuel vapors potentially exist in most fueling operations.

[Jim Stewart]

Why does an aircraft need "grounding" when fueling and a car, boat or otherwise, doesn't ?

Wind moving over metal that's insulated from the ground creates a strong electrical charge. I learned this the hard way by touching a long-wire shortwave antenna wire as a kid. I suspect that the charge is normally bled off before fueling if the engines are shut down. OTOH, if the engines are left running, a dangerous level of charge could be built up and then discharged through the filler nozzle.

[Merlinspop]

Why does an aircraft need "grounding" when fueling and a car, boat or otherwise, doesn't ?

Wind moving over metal that's insulated from the ground creates a strong electrical charge. I learned this the hard way by touching a long-wire shortwave antenna wire as a kid. I suspect that the charge is normally bled off before fueling if the engines are shut down. OTOH, if the engines are left running, a dangerous level of charge could be built up and then discharged through the filler nozzle.

Grabbing a cable lowered from a hovering helicopter before it touches ground can be .... interesting.

[sandpiper]

I am fortunate that clear mogas is available at a nearby airport with direct into plane service. And the local fuel distributer has clear mogas. All of this is about a buck cheaper than 100LL. I could save even more using mogas with 10% ethanol from local filling stations. Rotax and my plane are approved for 10% but I will use clear mogas whenever I can get it.

I also have a couple of 5 gallon tuff jugs. They are not cheap but I have never spilled fuel nor overfilled using them. The main disadvantage is, with my high wing, toting them up a ladder. This was a lot easier 7 years ago when I bought my plane. Maybe the weight of fuel has gone up like the prices?

I also have a Fun Fueler which works off air pressure. See www.bykas.com. These are very pricey IMHO. The only reason I have one is because the local farm store sold their remaining stock at a huge discount. They found that no self respecting farmer or rancher would pay those prices for something they could put together for about $100.

Charlie Tango and CTLSi probably have the best solutions as seen earlier in this thread.

[Wm.Ince]

Grabbing a cable lowered from a hovering helicopter before it touches ground can be .... interesting.

Put another way . . . an electrifying experience. . . . .

[FastEddieB]

Charlie Tango and CTLSi probably have the best solutions as seen earlier in this thread.

Roger Lee also has a very nice setup.

On the one hand, I'm envious. Very elegant solution.

On the other hand, my Sky Arrow only holds 18 gals, so I should never be putting in more than about 15 gals from cans, usually much less.

And in spite of turning 65 next month, I find it trivially easy to hoist 30 lbs of MOGAS up on to the wing.

For now!

[drseti]

And in spite of turning 65 next month,

welcome to Medicare, young man.