Flying 101

[MillCreek]

On the topic of aviation gas, I have read suggestions to use this for boats, motorcycles and small engines because it does not have ethanol in it to ruin the rubber and plastic in the fuel systems.  Any thoughts on this? 

On my motorcycle boards, there are many comments about the evils of ethanol, especially in the older bikes.  As a matter of fact, my maxi-scooter manufacturer, Aprilia, had to do a recall of several years worth of scooters and motorcycles to replace some elements of the fuel system.  When the bikes were designed in Italy, they were not engineered for ethanol in the gasoline, which is a wonderful solvent for some of the plastics and rubber used.

[Tallpine]

Aviation paint is roughly $150 per gallon.   

If I were to own a Cessna, I would go the Don Sheldon route and fly it with bare aluminum :)

[41magsnub]

Yes, it's lighter than air so when you paint a plane with it the plane becomes much lighter. Saves on fuel cause it takes less energy to get off the ground, up to altitude and stay there.

Problem is you can't forget what you're doing and let go of the can because it will float away. Happens more than you think. 

So it is like Flubber then?   

[RocketMan]

So it is like Flubber then?   

Not so much.  Painted airplanes don't bounce very well.

[280plus]

Av gas (to the best of my ancient knowledge of the stuff) still contains lead which you will inhale when it comes out the exhaust pipe.

That said, I used to have this AMC Iggle with the 258 CI straight 6 and I would put 5 gal of av gas in the tank and fill it the rest of the way with premium when I was going on a long trip. The Iggle would fly... 

 

[RoadKingLarry]

Because it flies?   



 

Kind of like boat paint only more elite.

[Boomhauer]

There isn't much added weight, true.  The high costs are because everything that goes on to or into an airplane has to be tested and approved by the FAA.  That, plus liability insurance, increases the price of "aviation parts" by a factor of 5.

The other cost comes from having to do the weight and balance on the flight control surfaces if the vinyl is added to those areas.  That is a little more involved than a whole-airplane W&B.

Check out an aviation supply catalog and compare prices for non certified components (for experimental use only) to identical certified components. Guess which one is much higher?

Av gas (to the best of my ancient knowledge of the stuff) still contains lead which you will inhale when it comes out the exhaust pipe.

Yes, it still contains lead.

On the topic of aviation gas, I have read suggestions to use this for boats, motorcycles and small engines because it does not have ethanol in it to ruin the rubber and plastic in the fuel systems.  Any thoughts on this?

On my motorcycle boards, there are many comments about the evils of ethanol, especially in the older bikes.  As a matter of fact, my maxi-scooter manufacturer, Aprilia, had to do a recall of several years worth of scooters and motorcycles to replace some elements of the fuel system.  When the bikes were designed in Italy, they were not engineered for ethanol in the gasoline, which is a wonderful solvent for some of the plastics and rubber used.

Yes, avgas contains no ethanol. I'm also told that the lead will kill emissions control equipment, so keep that in mind.

10% ethanol fuel was a really STUPID move. Fortunately, one of the oil companies in my town sells fuel w/o ethanol, so try your local oil distributors. 

[230RN]

Questions about aircraft paint, etc.

Yes, it's lighter than air so when you paint a plane with it the plane becomes much lighter. Saves on fuel cause it takes less energy to get off the ground, up to altitude and stay there.

Is that that with which they paint the Goodyear blimp? 



I always wondered what kept that thing up and why it had such a big surface area. 

(This not-ending-a-sentence-with-a-preposition stuff is BS.)

And I noticed they didn't paint the top of it.  Izzat because the paint would fly off from trying to hold it up, so they only paint it on the bottom?  Why doesn't that make it capsize?

I'm confused about all this aircrafty stuff.

And I guess the "loo" painted on the outside of the Kulula plane in the OP is there so you don't stand under it?

(Or under which you should not stand?)


Terry, 230RN

(Pic credit in properties)

[280plus]

Yes, lead will definitely kill your catalytic converter. Also fouls the plugs real good.

And I noticed they didn't paint the top of it.  Izzat because the paint would fly off from trying to hold it up, so they only paint it on the bottom?

Exactly, the direct upward pull causes issues with the paint bubbling and flaking off.

Why doesn't that make it capsize?

Bullshit, err, I mean ballast in the bottom.

[Fly320s]

Yes, lead will definitely kill your catalytic converter.

And kill animals that can be turned into a tasty meal.

[Tuco]

Freshman year at university, I labeled my dorm room in a similar fashion with colored chalk.
The roommates were not nearly amused as you all.

[230RN]

Ahh, thanks, 280plus!  So that gonadala thing hanging off the bottom is the ballast?  And now I noticed they didn't paint that, either.

Of course, so the big heavy unpainted gonadala keeps it from capsizing.  I should have known.

[280plus]

yup, that thing is just a big ol' hunk of lead.  If tyhey run out of avgas they just stop at any old filling station and then scrape some lead off of the gondola and put it in the tank. Then they go out and kill tasty animals from like 10,000 ft. 

[seeker_two]

yup, that thing is just a big ol' hunk of lead.  If tyhey run out of avgas they just stop at any old filling station and then scrape some lead off of the gondola and put it in the tank. Then they go out and kill tasty animals from like 10,000 ft. 

....and don't forget the illegal aliens and hurricanes.... 

[280plus]

Hurricane flying in a blimp. There's an E ticket ride for you. 

[Scout26]

Aviation paint is roughly $150 per gallon.   

I take that's for Dark Green ?  How much is the super secret Black ??

[230RN]

^ "How much is the super secret Black ?? "

Do you mean that non-radar reflecting stuff they put on stealth aircraft?

OK, here we go with another 230RN bizarre idea...

You know those microwavebale burritos and pot pies which are supposed to get nice and crispy in the microwave oven?  You ever notice that the paper trays and wrappers they come in are covered with this grey material?

I guess they way they work is that grey stuff absorbs the u-waves (micro-waves) and get real hot, so they crisp up the crust.

OK.  That means they absorb u-waves and convert them to heat, right?

I've often wondered if you could buy that material, which looks like it is painted on, and paint your car with it so it would absorb the police radar and hence be invisible to their radar guns... Hah? Hah?  You think?

In moments of unrestricted contemplation (read: "in one of 230RN's whacko moments"), I've thought of collecting a bunch of chicken-pot pie plates and burrito wrappers and taping them to my car.  Then I'd zoom by one of those annoying roadside radar signs which flash at you to slow down if you're going 1.0001 miles per hour over the posted limit to see how it reacts.

Of course, u-wave ovens run at 2450 megaHertz, and the radar speed detectors and guns are much above that, but I figure if that grey stuff absorbs 2450MHz, it might even absorb speed detector radar frequencies...

Of course, you'd have to wear some chicken pot pie plates on your head to avoid radar reflecting off you through the windshield, but...

I told you it was another one of 230RN's bizarre ideas...

TeraHertz Terry, 230RN

[280plus]

Ok, everybody save they're microwave crisper thingies and send them to terry.