April 30, 2008 in City

Push for ethanol is grounding aircraft

Kevin Graman Staff writer

Roger Dunham, who runs a business building light airplanes and teaching pilots to fly ultralights in the Athol area, stands among some of his planes Friday. The Experimental Aircraft Association has warned its members of the danger of using fuel with ethanol.
(Full-size photo)

Scientists are calling for a moratorium on biofuels to stabilize the rising price of food, and motorists are noticing a distinct drop in their vehicles’ gas mileage.

But North Idaho pilot Roger Dunham has more reason than most to dislike ethanol: It’s put him out of business.

“My wife calls me the bread loser,” said Dunham, a flight instructor for more then 30 years, because of all the money he’s sunk into his vintage aircraft over time. “But it’s extreme bread-losing now, because we can’t fly.”

Dunham owns several planes, including a 1937 Waco cabin biplane and a 1947 Piper Vagabond Cub, which …

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