Okay, is unleaded avgas mandated? Is it dramatically more expensive than leaded? For how long should I look up and see a GA aircraft knowing it's some rich idiot spraying my neighborhood with lead?
Not yet because we're just now finally rolling out the unleaded avgas. It's probably a safe bet that the EPA will move to ban leaded avgas as soon as it's feasible to do so once G100UL has more wide distribution (which, again, is in the process of happening this year and next year).
> Is it dramatically more expensive than leaded?
The manufacturer says it will cost about $1 more per gallon for unleaded. It may end up costing about the same when you consider the overhead that EPA regulations for leaded gas add to the final cost of 100LL.
> For how long should I look up and see a GA aircraft knowing it's some rich idiot spraying my neighborhood with lead?
Honestly, this statement shows a gross misunderstanding of GA. GA is far more than "rich people flying in their planes." For one, the really rich people are flying in jets or turboprops which burn jet fuel like airliners do. Second, GA with piston planes is training for future airline pilots, medical flights, law enforcement, aerial survey, and much more. The people that do fly GA for fun with piston planes are solidly middle or upper-middle class. Flying for a hobby is very similar to having a boat or RV with most GA pilots flying around in not-at-all-fancy 1970s-era Cessnas. In terms of lead contamination, you should be more concerned of lead pipes and paint than the tiny amount that comes from 100LL fuel.
