supplemental type certificate (STC)

[busted]

Hello anybody....... how hard is it to get an STC for usuing auto gas in a certified airplane like a C-172? And could you use it for commercial use like flight training?

[CharlieTango]

I don't think such STCs do much good anymore. My friends that have them stopped using them when ethanol was added to auto fuel.

[3Dreaming]

Hello anybody....... how hard is it to get an STC for usuing auto gas in a certified airplane like a C-172? And could you use it for commercial use like flight training?

Getting the STC should not be a problem. Like CT said, you need to make sure you have a good source of non ethanol fuel. You can use it for commercial use unless the STC states otherwise for some reason.

[FastEddieB]

In some parts of the country (mine), ethanol-free gas is still available.

http://pure-gas.org

[MrMorden]

In some parts of the country (mine), ethanol-free gas is still available.

http://pure-gas.org

I have access to it, but it's only 90 octane and my 912 requires 91. I could mix, but that's a hassle and then I still end up with ethanol or lead, which is worse for my CT. So I just use 93 with ethanol.

[busted]

isn't premium ethanol free?

[drseti]

My friends that have them stopped using them when ethanol was added to auto fuel.

Both the Peterson and the EAA STCs are available for several Lycoming and Continental engines. These STCs both explicitly state that the fuel must contain no ethanol.

[drseti]

isn't premium ethanol free?

Unfortunately, all premium 91 octane unleaded auto fuel sold in my state contains 10% ethanol, by state law.

[FlyingForFun]

Delete

[drseti]

The EAA STC is just paperwork, but depending upon engine and airframe, may mandate additional requirements during a condition inspection. Not sure about the Petersen Aviation STC. And, you need STCs for both the airframe and the engine. Here's a list of what's availale from EAA:

http://www.eaa.org/autofuel/autogas/approved.asp

Line an LSA LoA, an STC is issued to a specific aircraft by s/n and registration number. Its cost is basically $1.50 per engine HP. And, since the EAA STC prohibits ethanol, they now include a free ethanol test kit with your STC order.

[MrMorden]

isn't premium ethanol free?

Typically it has less ethanol that lesser octane blends, but still has ethanol in it. We are lucky in Georgia to have access to 93 octane premium, which I have heard is usually around 5% ethanol or less.

[MrMorden]

isn't premium ethanol free?

Unfortunately, all premium 91 octane unleaded auto fuel sold in my state contains 10% ethanol, by state law.

They MANDATE 10%? Are you in a big corn growing state?

Here in Georgia we are *allowed* up to 10% ethanol in gasoline, but there is no mandate that a certain percentage *must* be ethanol.

[Alabassa]

Hello All,
same problem in Italy.. due ethanol, I have owed to change the bowls of the carburators on my Rotax engine.