Aircar
Well-Known Member
On another thread some dispute about the validity or otherwise of the effect of internal combustion engine emissions on global climate was voiced --regardless of the actual merit or not of the global anthropogenic warming thesis the perceptions and public policy enactments CAN affect small aircraft operations.
To get the ball rolling some off the cuff examples ;- the GFC (Green Flight Challenge) is directly traceable to concerns about airborne emissions from gasoline engines (light aircraft lack catalytic converters and modern emission controls even ) plus the fear that depletion of oil will one day deny liquid hydrocarbons to at least light aircraft owners --the military and airlines will probably have first call in any repeat of the oil crisis brought on by oil scarcity .
Cars can more easily be run on heavy batteries and recharged at home as compared to aircraft tied down outside or even hangared . That the original NASA "centennial challenge" flying car competition was ditched in favour of a maximum fuel economy contest has probably influenced the possible future of small personal air vehicle design more than any other factor but is virtually unknown --none of the 'winning' designs from the GFC will ever be produced so that any environmental benefit will also not materialize.
Ethanol being mandated as a part of gasoline has caused deterioration of aircraft engines and potentially loss of power,vapour lock at altitude, icing from water absorbtion and loss of power from lower calorific value --the reason for ethanol is entirely for environmental 'benefit' but is probably negatively efficient from the input energy vs output and the effect on food corn prices. All ethanol as an aircraft fuel has been demonstrated --what is the verdict -and other synfuels ? (butanol, Natural gas ,H2 or Coal to oil as used to power the WW2 Luftwaffe or even "homebrew" fuel from garden waste etc by fermentation (as during the 1970s fuel crisis ) any ideas?
Leaded fuels 100 LL --being withdrawn on the basis of lead poisoning( although David Warren of "black box" invention fame stated that tetra ethyl lead was inert after passing though an IC engine -fused into tiny spheres with a glazed sealed surface and unavailable to human ingestion --lead based paints more likely caused blood lead levels ) What alternatives to substitute for tetra ethyl lead are there ?
Noise --motorgliders were banned from flying in the Alps as a result of nature lovers not wanting to hear even occasional noise in otherwise remote and pristine areas --bans or curfews near residential areas are commonplace --any ideas on future environmental restrictions on noise? Current state or national rules and effects on aviation?
Today the Chinese announced they would not pay European carbon emission levies (when flying airliners into or out of Europe ) --are carbon levies in place for small aircraft yet ? -or expected?
To get the ball rolling some off the cuff examples ;- the GFC (Green Flight Challenge) is directly traceable to concerns about airborne emissions from gasoline engines (light aircraft lack catalytic converters and modern emission controls even ) plus the fear that depletion of oil will one day deny liquid hydrocarbons to at least light aircraft owners --the military and airlines will probably have first call in any repeat of the oil crisis brought on by oil scarcity .
Cars can more easily be run on heavy batteries and recharged at home as compared to aircraft tied down outside or even hangared . That the original NASA "centennial challenge" flying car competition was ditched in favour of a maximum fuel economy contest has probably influenced the possible future of small personal air vehicle design more than any other factor but is virtually unknown --none of the 'winning' designs from the GFC will ever be produced so that any environmental benefit will also not materialize.
Ethanol being mandated as a part of gasoline has caused deterioration of aircraft engines and potentially loss of power,vapour lock at altitude, icing from water absorbtion and loss of power from lower calorific value --the reason for ethanol is entirely for environmental 'benefit' but is probably negatively efficient from the input energy vs output and the effect on food corn prices. All ethanol as an aircraft fuel has been demonstrated --what is the verdict -and other synfuels ? (butanol, Natural gas ,H2 or Coal to oil as used to power the WW2 Luftwaffe or even "homebrew" fuel from garden waste etc by fermentation (as during the 1970s fuel crisis ) any ideas?
Leaded fuels 100 LL --being withdrawn on the basis of lead poisoning( although David Warren of "black box" invention fame stated that tetra ethyl lead was inert after passing though an IC engine -fused into tiny spheres with a glazed sealed surface and unavailable to human ingestion --lead based paints more likely caused blood lead levels ) What alternatives to substitute for tetra ethyl lead are there ?
Noise --motorgliders were banned from flying in the Alps as a result of nature lovers not wanting to hear even occasional noise in otherwise remote and pristine areas --bans or curfews near residential areas are commonplace --any ideas on future environmental restrictions on noise? Current state or national rules and effects on aviation?
Today the Chinese announced they would not pay European carbon emission levies (when flying airliners into or out of Europe ) --are carbon levies in place for small aircraft yet ? -or expected?
