Air Shows Flown With Proposed 100LL Drop-In Replacement During 2011 Season

International extreme airshow performer Rick Volker of Rick Volker Airshows has joined forces with Swift Enterprises to use Swift's unleaded, high-octane aviation gasoline during the 2011 air show season.

Photo By Eric Dunigan Photography

Volker will test and demonstrate SwiftFuel (100SF), the renewable fuel that is an ultra-high-performance, unleaded replacement for 100LL, in his Sukhoi SU26M. 100SF, developed by Swift Enterprises, is produced through a process that can begin with multiple biomass sources and ends with a high-performance aviation product. "I want to use SwiftFuel to inject some environmentally responsible awareness and behavior into a particularly wasteful industry,” Volker said. "I wish to contribute my efforts to those with a vision that will end dependence on foreign oil."

Volker is well known in the aviation community. His experience includes unlimited IAC competition in various aircraft, air show performances, Canadian Heritage Flight team pilot and most recently his dogfighting displays in exotic warbirds such as a Messerschmitt Bf109, Spitfire and Hurricane. "There is a difference in testing fuel during an extreme air show performance compared with standard general aviation flying. Engines are pushed to fly at the limits of their durability at air shows, at maximum levels of rpm, CHT, oil temperature, manifold pressure and gyroscopic forces without regard to outside air temperature," Volker said. "The penalty of engine failure is much more severe when an aircraft has an unusual attitude so close to the ground. Every performer is walking a finer edge of risk than they would outside the aerobatic box. If there are ever going to be engine problems, they will happen here. The crucible of the air show arena is the perfect testing ground for performance and durability."

During the 2011 air show season, Volker will use the Swift-fueled Sukhoi SU26M for Unlimited Freestyle aerobatic solos. He also is excited to premiere in the innovative new motorsport, the Aerobatic Race Challenge. Volker will compete against well known performers as they race side-by-side through a challenging 10-maneuver aerobatic sequence. Dates and locations at select air shows in the Northeast U.S. and Canada will be posted on Volker's website when confirmed.

Some of the performances include:

• June 10-12. Bagotville, Quebec, Canada, Volonte de Faire, Bagotville Airshow
• July 8-10. Geneseo, N.Y., Geneseo Airshow
• July 25-31. Oshkosh, Wisc., EAA AirVenture - pending
• September 4-6. Toronto, Ontario, Canada, Canadian International Air Show
• September 10-11. Niagara Falls, N.Y., Thunder of Niagara
• September 17-18. Gatineau, Quebec, Canada, EAA Canadian Fly-in

Mary-Louise Rusek, president of Swift Enterprises, said the affiliation with Rick Volker Airshows will benefit both firms. "We are pleased to work with Rick. He is an excellent pilot, and we look forward to helping him get the most out of SwiftFuel and his plane," she said.

FMI: www.swiftenterprises.com, www.rvairshows.com