George Braly on Lean-of-Peak, G100UL, Certification Battles, and Why Aviation Myths Die Hard

If you have ever been told, “That’s just how piston engines work,” this episode of Aviation Masters might make you raise an eyebrow and then start asking more questions. In this episode, host Mike Busch sits down with George Braly, one of the most influential (and unapologetically analytical) minds in modern general aviation. Braly is an inventor, trial lawyer, entrepreneur, and the co-founder and chief engineer of General Aviation Modifications, Inc. (GAMI)—the company behind GAMjectors, Tornado Alley Turbo systems, and the FAA-approved high-octane unleaded avgas G100UL. This is not a surface-level conversation. It is a deep, technical, and refreshingly honest look at how innovation actually happens in aviation and why it is often resisted at every step of the way. ⏱️ Chapters 01:17 — Meet George Braly 02:53 — Early Aviation Roots in Oklahoma 04:51 — Learning IFR the Hard Way 07:09 — From Aerospace Engineering to Law School 08:59 — Buying a Bonanza and Returning to Engineering 10:43 — Founding GAMI and Balanced Fuel Injectors 12:29 — Calling the FAA Certification Bluff 15:24 — Lean-of-Peak: Where Angels Fear to Tread 17:10 — Fuel/Air Balance and Engine Monitor Insights 19:01 — Validation from a Continental Engineering Legend 22:05 — Building the Aircraft Engine Test Cell 25:04 — Teaching Thousands of Pilots How Engines Work 28:47 — Manufacturer Pushback on Lean Operations 30:23 — Airline History Confirms Lean Mixture Operations 35:11 — Tornado Alley Turbo and System Improvements 38:08 — Flying a Turbo Cirrus SR22 at Altitude 42:57 — Cirrus Adopts the Tornado Alley System 46:02 — FAA Rule Changes and Engineering Workarounds 49:19 — The Long Fight for Unleaded Avgas (G100UL) 53:16 — Political Resistance Inside Certification 58:15 — Restarting the Fuel Certification Effort 01:02:31 — Detonation Testing at the Edge of Failure 📍 Subscribe to Aviation Masters for more long-form conversations with the people shaping the future of GA.