Continental-Powered Bonanza On Swift Fuel
Teledyne Continental, Hawker Beechcraft and Swift Fuels marked Earth Day
Wednesday by announcing successful test flights of a Bonanza fueled with the
Swift Fuel cellulose-based biofuel that is being touted as a replacement for
100LL. The maker of the fuel claims it can be made for half the cost of avgas
and deliver more miles per gallon. Swift is confident the fuel will prove out.
"We project that Swift Fuel will extend aircraft range through increased
efficiency and could cost up to 50 percent less per gallon than 100LL," said
Swift spokesman Jon Ziulkowski, "This will be a big boost to piston aircraft
operators and something we are proud to be involved in." TCM and HBC seem to be
encouraged.
Swift and TCM began talking last year and the flights are the culmination of
those discussions. TCM has also been testing high octane motor fuels as an
alternative to avgas. "This is another big step in our sustainability
initiative and technology leadership at HBC," said Ed Petkus, HBC vice
president, Product Development and Engineering. "It is also something that will
delight general aviation pilots."
Socialism will eventually run out of other peoples money.
