Neiva Aeronautical Industry, which is part of Embraer’s group, launched the first aircraft in the world moved by ethanol. The new aircraft, which is in fact a modification of the EMB-202 Ipanema, which is used to pulverize big plantations, was developed to be a more economic version.
With the modifications in the 6-cilinders Lycoming engine (380 hp), the aircraft’s consume have increased about 15%, but the difference in the prices of both fuels will represent a significative saving of money. Aviation querosene costs about R$3,50 (US$1,10) while alcohol costs about R$0,90. The type of alcohol which will be used is the same used by cars in Brazil.
According to Neiva’s comercial gerent, Luiz Fabiano Zaccarelli Cunha, flying 400 hours per year, for example, Ipanema alcohol consume will cost around R$29.880. If the fuel used is querosene, the cost would be R$98.000.
Regards,
Primer55
By: Rabie - 17th October 2002 at 08:56
RE: Brazilian industry launches an airplane move by alcohol
its to do with the lenght of the hydrocrabon chain and octane has eight in while alchol which is ethanol (i think) is about 3 or 4 (i did chemistry a long time ago now).
the higher up this chain you move the bigger the bang and the easier it goes bang
rabie :9
By: Arabella-Cox - 17th October 2002 at 01:07
RE: Brazilian industry launches an airplane move by alcohol
wait…you do know what Octane is right? You’re saying alcohol? No, they are very different.
By: mixtec - 16th October 2002 at 19:52
RE: Brazilian industry launches an airplane move by alcohol
Formula 1 racecars are powered entirely by alcohol because it has the highest octane of any fuel available.
By: Primer55 - 15th October 2002 at 12:57
RE: Brazilian industry launches an airplane move by alcohol
Well, I think it’s cleaner and, anyway, it’s renovable. Here in Brazil, using ethanol as fuel is not just a political thing; it’s also a economical (specially now, that dollars price is in stratophere) and social solution (creating many jobs). About oil, we can actually can hold something around 50% of our demanding with our own production (for those who dont know Brazil is a top leading nation in oil technologies… just check who is the oil provider for Williams F-1 team). I really dont know from where it comes the others 50% but our government has just started a program some years ago to provide our industries with natural gas. This way, it was built a gasodute from Bolivia.
Regards,
Junin*
* I’ll now start signing with my real nickname 😉
By: Rabie - 15th October 2002 at 11:41
RE: Brazilian industry launches an airplane move by alcohol
well some people siad that the adaditive in unleaded petroll was worse than the lead in 4 star……. politics }>
rabie :9
By: Arabella-Cox - 15th October 2002 at 02:02
RE: Brazilian industry launches an airplane move by alcohol
Interesting, some states in the US have MTBE or Ethanol additives to ensure a “cleaner” burning fuel as some would claim. But, the counter claim is that it is dirtier. So, just wondering what Brazilians think about it from the environmental perspective? I understand the economics, but how come Brazil don’t build a oil pipeline getting crude from Venezuela? Some in the US thinks that the Ethanol additive is just a political thing where farmers wanted a bigger share of their crops earmarked for consistent consumption (gasoline). But, from safety perspective, alcohol is much more dangerous than avgas or gasoline.
By: Rabie - 14th October 2002 at 11:21
RE: Brazilian industry launches an airplane move by alcohol
i’ld agree – its not that brazil can’t make the food its the poor lack the money to buy the food
i think in a world where petrol (and disel) will become more and more expensive this is a great idea
rabie :9
By: Primer55 - 12th October 2002 at 16:13
RE: Brazilian industry launches an airplane move by alcohol
[updated:LAST EDITED ON 12-10-02 AT 04:15 PM (GMT)]Mixtec,
Cars which uses gasoline must be something like 90% of our fleet. But what happens, is that in Brazil, our gasoline is mixed with alcohol. I guess 30% of our gasoline is not gasoline; it’s alcohol! And it’s absolutely not discusting because our problem isnt lack of food but lack of money, and this sugar cane plantations create lots of new jobs, specially for very poor people.
About natural gas, the number of cars (meanly cabs) which are running on it is quickly increasing, but it’s still very limited to big cities due to a very reduced number of places where you can find it.
Regards,
Primer55
By: Primer55 - 12th October 2002 at 16:05
RE: Brazilian industry launches an airplane move by alcohol
In the 80’s, here in Brazil, a high porcentage of cars used alcohol. Nowadays, just 2% of the new cars which are sold run on it. Our government is making some efforts in order to increase that (in order to low our dependence to petroleum imports).
Regards,
Primer55
By: mixtec - 12th October 2002 at 16:05
RE: Brazilian industry launches an airplane move by alcohol
I personally think that its discusting to use a food crop (suger cane) to fuel vehicles (20% of brazils fuel consuption is from gasahol), especially in a poor country like brazil where millions are hungry. If you want to talk about using natural gas to fuel vehicles, thats something Id like to hear about.
By: Saab 2000 - 12th October 2002 at 15:05
RE: Brazilian industry launches an airplane move by alcohol
Many cars run on alcohol in developing countries,if the manufacturers say its an environmentally friendly option and cuts costs then it must be a good idea.
I would think they mean ethonol not Heiniken Kabir :7
By: KabirT - 12th October 2002 at 14:24
RE: Brazilian industry launches an airplane move by alcohol
hmmm what next……. maybe aircraft engines are only made that they run by beer…… maybe Heiniken. :p
By: Primer55 - 12th October 2002 at 13:33
RE: Brazilian industry launches an airplane move by alcohol
Oh crap… Just after having a huge work to translate the previous news from a newspaper, I found a much better detailed news in Embraer’s website. And it’s already in English!! 🙂
Here it goes:
10/10/2002
EMBRAER DEBUTS ALCOHOL-POWERED VERSION OF ITS IPANEMA CROP-DUSTER
Indústria Aeronáutica Neiva, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Embraer, presented today a version of its crop-duster aircraft EMB 202 Ipanema equipped with an engine powered by alcohol. The objective of the Company is to give a boost to agricultural aviation, as studies indicate a new cost/benefit ratio in items such as operational cost, potency and consumption with alcohol-powered aircraft.
The project is being developed in partnership with CTA (Centro Tecnológico Aeroespacial, the Brazilian certification authority based in São José dos Campos, SP) and has the technical support of both Lycoming and Hartzell, manufacturers of the engine and propeller group, respectively.
“Confirming the market acceptance and the validity of the concept, we expect to obtain certification for both aircraft and engine in 18 months,” said Neiva’s CEO Paulo Urbanavicius.
Neiva believes alcohol to be a viable option to the crop-duster market because the fuel is environmentally friendly and research data indicates it can extend the engine maintenance cycle, making it even more promising. The Ipanema crop-duster is a sales leader, with 30 years of uninterrupted production and 850 units marketed in the period. This represents 85% of the national fleet in this segment, which today counts some 1,000 units.
The model to be fitted out with the alcohol-powered engine is the latest of that renowned aircraft family, the EMB 202 ‘Ipanemão.’ It yields 300 horsepower and its hopper capacity is 40 percent superior to its predecessor’s, carrying 950 liters (250 gal) or 750 kg (1,650 lbs) of chemicals. Aerodynamic enhancements such as winglets and a new wing profile have improved performance of the aircraft, making it faster and more productive.
About Neiva
NEIVA’s 48 years in the business are mixed with the very history of Brazilian aviation. Initially installed at the Airport of Manguinhos in the city of Rio de Janeiro, Indústria Aeronáutica Neiva was founded on October 12, 1954 to design and manufacture the gliders BN-1 and Neiva B Monitor. In 1956 the Company moved to Botucatu, where production of the Paulistinha P-56, Regente U-42, Regente Elo L-42 and Universal T-25 took place.
In 1960 the Company started its design activities in São José dos Campos, home of Centro Técnico Aeroespacial – CTA. Prioritizing the research and development of new types of aircraft, Neiva designed the Regente, which was phased into production in 1964. In 1962 the Company started research and development of the Universal, an aircraft specifically designed for military training, whose production line was set up in São José dos Campos as from 1969.
On March 11, 1980 Neiva was acquired by Embraer, taking over the new owner’s engineering and production lines of smaller aircraft, including the Ipanema. In 1982 the Company took the fist step to convert the Navajo aircraft line into its local version, named Carajá. On August 1990 Neiva started the local production of components for the Piper line.
The concentration of Neiva’s productive force in Botucatu determined the expansion of its manufacturing facilities at the airport, including the erection of new production hangars, designed with the latest technology. Among the items produced in Botucatu are: · Parts and components for the ERJ 145 and EMBRAER 170/190 families; · Production line of EMB 202 ‘Ipanemão’ · Production to order of EMB 120 Brasília · Cabling, electric and metallic panels; · Design and production of ground support equipment · Parts, components and assembly of ALX/Super Tucano.
Neiva has delivered more than 3,500 aircraft, is installed in an area of 249.600 m2, of which the erected area is 35.700 m2, and hires 930 employees.
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Taken from www.embraer.com
Regards,
Primer55
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October 12, 2002 at 1:27 pm