By Marina Malenic
The Air Force last week flew an A-10 Thunderbolt aircraft at Eglin AFB, Fla., on a blend of biomass-derived and conventional JP-8 jet fuel.
The March 25 demonstration was the first-ever flight of an aircraft powered on a biomass-derived jet fuel blend, according to the Air Force. The source of the biomass powering the A-10 demonstration was camelina oil, a flowering weed in the same family as mustard, cabbage and broccoli. The oil is considered a hydrotreated renewable jet (HRJ) fuel–a class of fuels derived from either plant oil or animal fat feedstocks.
The Air Force is the largest consumer of jet fuel in the Defense Department. The service has set a goal to replace half of its continental U.S. conventional jet fuel requirement–about 400 million gallons–with cheaper and more environmentally friendly alternatives by 2016.
While additional testing will be conducted to explore the full extent of its benefits, according to the Air Force, initial test data show that particulate emissions are reduced during combustion of biomass-derived fuels. The refining process and the emissions from HRJ fuel are cleaner than conventional jet fuels, according to fuel certification officials.
Last week’s test paves the way for future HRJ certification flight tests, according to Air Force officials. The service is planning a second feasibility demonstration this summer using an F-15 Eagle. A C-17 Globemaster will then be tested, followed by an F-22 Raptor later this year.
“The Air Force recognizes its role as a leader in energy management,” said Terry Yonkers, the service’s assistant secretary for installations, environment and logistics. “This demonstration underscores our commitment to advancing technologies that increase our use of renewable energy and reduce our consumption of imported foreign oil.”
The flight was conducted by members of the 40th Flight Test Squadron, a developmental test squadron that is part of the Air Armament Center at Eglin.
The Navy, meanwhile, is planning to fly an F/A-18 “Green Hornet” on a 50/50 blend of algae-based HRJ and conventional jet fuel from NAS Patuxent River, Md., on April 22.
The plan is to certify the biomass fuel by 2012 and have it in use by 2016. Once the fuel is certified, companies are expected to start producing the crude plant oil so that refineries can convert it into fuel. Manufacturing plants for the alternative fuel are being built in Louisiana and Washington, officials said.