The single-seat Ipanema is the result of intensive Brazilian research into ethanol fuel, spurred by the 1970s oil crisis and Brazil’s abundant natural sugar cane.
Roughly a third of all cars in Brazil are adapted to use both regular petrol and ethanol. Since the 1980s, ethanol has been Brazil’s dominant automobile fuel, partly due to petrol running at almost four times the price.
Around 300-400 aircraft in Brazil fly using ethanol, but the Ipanema is the first certified for commercial production lines. At only $US247,000 ($US14,000 more than the conventional version), 70 more Ipanemas have been ordered..
“Ethanol fuel is less polluting than gasoline, is renewable, and is about five times less expensive than gasoline,” said Acir Padilha Jnr, Neiva director, noting also that the ethanol version of the Ipanema is more durable and 7% more powerful, with reduced costs of production.
The Brazilian Government hopes to have all small aircraft equipped with ethanol-burning capabilities, a task Neiva is assisting by converting standard Ipanemas to ethanol versions. Neiva also hopes to convert the larger Sertanejo and Minuano aircraft, which use similar engines to the Ipanema.
