List of E10 (ethanol blended) approved aircraft

[rezaf_2000]

Rotax 912/914 series were approved in September 2013 to use ethanol blended automotive fuel with up to 10% alcohol. I believe Jabiru engines are the same. With the engine approval, we need to ensure the rubber components in the fuel system (all the fuel lines, filters, tanks that should not be fiberglass, fuel pumps, o-rings, etc.) are also alcohol tolerant.

Anyone knows of a list of LSA airplanes whose manufacturers have approved the use of E10 automotive fuel? Alternatively, if you know of any LSA that is approved (either directly or by replacing the necessary rubber components), could you please share?

To start the list, the following is what I could find:

Approved

1. Flight Design CT - The manufacturer does not disapprove of ethanol, and in fact has issued at least one service bulletin showing what needs to be changed in order to use E10.
2. Evektor - Evektor already approves the use of up to 10% ethanol in fuel for the aircraft in the form of ASTM D4814 standard, which can be ethanol blended up to 10%. However, the fuel drain valve seals under the wing tanks of a few very early aircraft may need to be replaced to ensure compliance.
3. Czech Sport Cruiser / Pipersport - In a 2010 POH and a 2011 POH, 5% ethanol is approved. This PiperSport checklistspecifies 10% ethanol, which might be due toits all metal fuel lines.
4. Tecnam - At least the 2002JF model is approved for E10. They also approve E10 (ASTM D4814) fortheir larger 2006T airplane. It's probably not a big leap of faith to assume their other models (P92, 2008) can safely use E10, but this needs further verification.
5. Remos - does not specifically prohibit it (uses the wording "ideally free of alcohol"), but doesn't seem to like it at all.
6. TL-2000 Sting - Explicitly allows the use of E10, and only asks for draining the tanks prior to extended storage.
7. Allegro - The POH doesn't specify, but the first page of their website advertises the use of E10.
8. Vans RV-12 - Explicitly allows the use of E10, and even mentions that the use of E10 is preferable to the use of 100LL! (Now that's interesting!)
9. Aerotrek - They don't seem to like it, but they approve after changing some fuel components.

Unapproved

1.X-Air LSA - The X-Air manufacturer has indicated that fuels containing ethanol must not be useduntil certain modifications are carried out.
2. Fly Synthesis (not active in US) - No ethanol!
3. Cessna 162 - No.
4. Carbon cub - J/3 uses O-200, so no ethanol.


My experiment with finding non-ethanol blended gas in the local gas stations continues, albeit unsuccessfully. I doubt I will be able to find non-ethanol fuel anywhere in my central Illinois town, although I will continue the experiment a bit longer. The combination of lower fuel burn of the Rotax 912, plus the much lower cost of very common automotive E10 fuel gives a huge advantage over legacy airplanes. For example, a Cessna 150 costs an extra $22 per hour just for the fuel type and thirstier engine. 100 hours of flight per year gives you $2,200 savings, equal to your annual hangar cost.

[roger lee]

As far as Rotax engines go ethanol is fine and even the fuel lines because if those rubber fuel lines weren't any good then most of our cars would be sitting on the side of the road. So for many it boils down to fuel tanks. The way some have gotten around the issue is to coat their tanks like FD with a product like Cream Weiss or other tank coating. It's pretty much impervious to every thing. Almost anyone could do this, but some don't. It is the same product that is used for sealing and repairing fuel tanks in autos and motorcycles.

[CTLSi]

......

[snaproll]

Note on Remos GX - According to the factory - ""From SN 378, aircraft are factory equipped with a fuel system that is resistant against the effects of ethanol". Aircraft with earlier SN’s can be retrofitted. The fuel tank is not resistant to the effects of ethanol prior to serial number 378. Factory recommends changing the fuel tank if ethanol containing fuel is the only choice. The balance of the fuel system is ethanol compatible. VR.. Don

[Merlinspop]

Cub Crafters has two models, the Sport Cub S2 with the O200 and the Carbon Cub with their home brewed CC340 engine.