San Antonio, TX / Houston, TX (July 16, 2024): VP Racing and LyondellBasell announced today that Andrew Findlay, a two-time winner of the National Championship Reno Air Races, will fly his Twin Turbo Lancair Super Legacy “One Moment” from Norfolk, VA, to Oshkosh, WI, on their UL100E unleaded AVGAS. Andy will also fly the Super Legacy on UL100E in the 400-mile AirVenture Cup Race on Sunday before the EAA AirVenture event.
“EAA AirVenture is The World’s Greatest Aviation Celebration® for good reason - the Experimental Aviation Association’s annual event attracts aviation enthusiasts, practitioners, and scientists from across the globe,” said Mark Walls, Director of R&D, Fuel Technology and Quality for VP Racing Fuels. “For over 70 years at this event, visitors have witnessed the advent of incredible aviation advancement, so it is fitting for VP Racing and LyondellBasell to update this gathering on the latest in 100 octane unleaded AVGAS development.”
VP Racing and LyondellBasell joined forces in 2018 to develop an unleaded aviation gasoline (AVGAS) in response to the Federal Aviation Administration’s (FAA) invitation for new fuel offerors to enter the Piston Engine Aviation Fuels Initiative (PAFI) program. In late 2023, this collaboration’s latest fuel passed a critical 350-hour durability test in a turbocharged Continental TSIO-550-K piston engine, making it the first unleaded fuel to pass this test and qualify for full-scale testing in the FAA’s rigorous PAFI program. VP and Lyondell are concurrently pursuing an American Society of Testing and Materials (ASTM) test fuel specification for the fuel and have completed Phase I of ASTM D7826 materials compatibility testing.
VP and Lyondell have scheduled several sessions during the seven-day event, beginning with the arrival of the “first flight” on their test UL100E fuel, piloted by championship aviator Andrew Findlay. Arriving directly from the AirVenture Cup Race in Wausau, Findlay will be flying his “One Moment” Lancair Super Legacy powered by a TSIO-550-EXP engine. He completed 5 hours of Phase 1 in-flight testing locally in Virginia, then traveled over 800 Nautical Miles from Norfolk, VA, to Oshkosh in under 4 hours with the new unleaded AVGAS.
“This new unleaded AVGAS from VP Racing and LyondellBasell is a genuine breakthrough in aviation fuel technology following years of development,” said Findlay. "Our flight testing to date has shown the engine performance is the same between UL100E and 100LL. It is exciting to be testing an unleaded fuel that will comply with ASTM standards, implements the insights gained from the PAFI lessons learned, and shows no perceived difference in the operation of the aircraft. It is a privilege to be working with experienced industry leaders VP Racing and LyondellBasell who have the background and resources to develop, test, produce, and distribute unleaded fuel to the piston powered engines of General Aviation."
In addition to landing at Oshkosh, Findlay will be leading a daily Q&A session at the AirVenture Cup Race’s tent, along with VP Racing’s Mark Walls and LyondellBasell’s Dan Pourreau, Senior Manager of Business Development and Advocacy. Walls and Pourreau are also on the EAA’s schedule to provide an update on UL100E PAFI Testing at Forum Stage 11 on Wednesday morning at 8:30 a.m.
“Forum attendees can expect an overview of the progress we’ve made in the development of our unleaded AVGAS testing conducted to date, and what additional testing is planned” said Pourreau. “Additionally, we will discuss the process for ensuring that no plane is “left behind” and that the fuel is produced to an industry consensus ASTM specification, just as 100LL is today. We believe that this is the best way to ensure the replacement of 100LL with UL100E is safe, smooth, and uneventful.”
In the latest news from the Eliminate Aviation Gasoline Lead Emissions (EAGLE) website, it was reported that the FAA and OEMs are now lining up test beds for the VP Racing/ LyondellBasell fuel, with testing to continue at the agency’s William J. Hughes Technical Center in Atlantic City and across North America. Concurrently, the OEMs will be testing their respective components for compatibility, durability, and performance as part of the full-scale testing.
Over the next couple of years, VP Racing and LyondellBasell expect to secure FAA fleet authorization for the use of this new unleaded fuel in general aviation piston aircraft, followed by a gradual rollout and eventual replacement of 100LL in subsequent years.
For more information on the FAA’s initiative for the unleaded GA future, visit the Eliminate Aviation Gasoline Lead Emissions (EAGLE) website: https://flyeagle.org. For more information about VP Racing and its products for racers, enthusiasts, and general consumers, visit www.vpracingfuels.com/aviation
About VP Racing
VP Racing is best known as the World Leader in Fuel Technology®, fueling champions in virtually every form of motorsport on land, sea, and air since 1975. VP’s AVGAS initiative is the latest in the company's long history of technological advancement pursuits.
VP is the Official Racing Fuel of the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship, MotoAmerica, World Racing Group, World of Outlaws, Fanatec GT World Challenge America, AMA Supercross, American Flat Track, SCORE, USAC, NMCA/NMRA, and more than 60 sponsored series and sanctioning bodies. VP is also the official performance coolant of IMSA, American Flat Track, and ATVMX.
VP also sells a full line of consumer products, including ethanol-free VP outdoor equipment fuels formulated for 2 and 4-cycle outdoor power equipment, lubricants, VP Madditive® automotive performance additives, Stay Frosty® performance coolants, car appearance products, and accessories through national home improvement, automotive parts, and online retailers. The company also offers a program to independent operators of convenience stores and gas stations, car wash, quick lube, and marinas to brand as VP Racing and resell the company’s race fuel and a full range of automotive performance and outdoor small engine products. For more information, visit www.vpracingfuels.com/aviation
VP Racing Media Contacts: Steve Ward @ 210-635-7744, Bob Merz @ 832-244-6305 or email AVGASPR@vpracingfuels.com
About LyondellBasell
We are LyondellBasell (NYSE: LYB) – a leader in the global chemical industry creating solutions for everyday sustainable living. Through advanced technology and focused investments, we are enabling a circular and low-carbon economy. Across all we do, we aim to unlock value for our customers, investors, and society. As one of the world’s largest producers of polymers and a leader in polyolefin technologies, we develop, manufacture, and market high-quality and innovative products for applications ranging from sustainable transportation and food safety to clean water and quality healthcare. For more information, please visit www.lyondellbasell.com or follow @LyondellBasell on LinkedIn.
Media Inquiries: LyondellBasell Media Relations, mediarelations@lyb.com or +1 (713) 309-7575
Forward-Looking Statements for LyondellBasell
The statements in this release relating to matters that are not historical facts are forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements are based upon assumptions of management of LyondellBasell which are believed to be reasonable at the time made and are subject to significant risks and uncertainties. Actual results could differ materially based on factors including, but not limited to, the successful passage of full-scale testing, the ability to obtain FAA and other regulatory authorization for use, and the successful commercial rollout of the fuel developed. Additional factors that could cause results to differ materially from those described in the forward-looking statements can be found in the "Risk Factors" section of our Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2022, which can be found at www.lyondellbasell.com/en/investors/ and on the Securities and Exchange Commission's website at www.sec.gov.