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Date: Tue, 06 Sep 2005 19:33:06 -0500
From: Charlie England <ceengland@bellsouth.net>
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To: Rotary motors in aircraft <flyrotary@lancaironline.net>
Subject: Re: [FlyRotary] Re: Alternative fuel
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Russell Duffy wrote:

> A gallon of ethanol has an energy content of 83,333 BTU.  A gallon of 
> gasoline has 123,222 BTU of energy  (varies a bit by octane).  So 
> gasoline has an approx 48 % advantage in energy.  So assuming an 
> engine was equally efficient on either fuel (which as you point out 
> they are not likely to be), you could produce more power and fly 
> further|Faster on gallon of gasoline than a gallon of ehtanol.   
>  
> Hi Ed,
>  
> I officially predict that you'll go looking for Saab info right after 
> you read this:
> http://www.age85.org/PressReleases/Detail.cfm?Ap=6
>  
> This isn't going to be another one of those MAP things is it :-)   
>  
> Cheers,
> Rusty (stirring up trouble again)

Way to go, Rusty.

I'm no engineer, but I'm a pretty fair troubleshooter & recognize the 
need to ask the right questions & properly evaluate empirical evidence.

In the '60s when I paid attention to auto racing, there were gas 
dragsters & then there were alcohol dragsters. (then nitro dragsters, 
but that's hardly relevant to aviation) The alky cars were noticeably 
faster, enough for a separate class. Indy cars in the '60s & early '70s 
were alky powered. Don't know if that's still the case. This seems to 
run counter to 'conventional wisdom' I'm seeing here. (Sorry; I'm 
currently reading 'Freakonomics' & couldn't resist.)

The knocks against alcohol for potential damage to engines/fuel system 
components is deja vu to unleaded gas in the '70s. Anybody having 
problems with no-lead gas in their cars today?

Charlie
(trying for whitecaps)