Bomber synthetic fuel tests to start in September - B-52 as a test vehicle for coal based fuel

air-attack.com ^ | Aug. 17th, 2006 | | unkown

[Ernest_at_the_Beach]

Posted on: Aug. 17th, 2006 || Source: www.shreveporttimes.com

No barksdale bombers are scheduled to take part in it, but there will be a touch of the Ark-La-Tex in tests to start next month on using synthetic fuel on B-52s.

A former commander of the 2nd Bomb Wing here, Curtis Bedke, has a big hand in the project, since he's commander of the Air Force Flight Training Center at Edwards Air Force Base, where the tests will take place.

"We're still on track," said Bedke, now a major general. "I'm updating the Secretary of the Air Force next Monday. We will spend the first two weeks of September doing ground engine run tests with the engine on the airplane, then the second half of the month flying it. (We) don't know the exact first flight date yet."

The tests will determine whether jet fuel derived from natural gas can work and work well in the veteran airplane that is the backbone of the bomber force.

The B-52 tapped for the tests is tail number 034, Bedke said. That airplane is from the 5th Bomb Wing at Minot Air Force Base, Barksdale's sister facility North Dakota.

Bedke commanded the 5th Operations Group there before coming to Barksdale in 2000.

The tests, done with the help of the Air Force Research Laboratory and the Air Force Materiel Command, will have the B-52 fly with two of its eight engines using a specially blended fuel made of conventional petroleum-derived JP-8 and fuel processed from natural gas via what is called the "Fischer-Tropsch" process.

If successful, the tests will help pave the way for the bomber force to use fuel from secure domestic sources.

This process, developed in Germany in the early 1920s, allows liquid petrochemicals to be made from natural gas, coal and shale oil. Aside from the security inducements in its favor, it's a costly process, but becomes more affordable when crude oil prices rise.

"The recent rise in cost of fuel has brought us to where many think we are now at the break-even point," Maj. Timothy Schulteis, Air Force propulsion program element monitor, said in May when the initiative was first announced. "One of the big advantages of that is we have a large domestic source for coal-based fuel."

The United States has what many industry estimates say is perhaps the largest reserve of coal in the world. That abundance of coal, and the Fischer-Tropsch process, could put the United States on the path to a more secure energy future, Air Force planners say.

--ends--

Other Headlines

Space Shuttle Atlantis to Blast off August 27

General Dynamics Awarded $12 Million for F/A-18E/F Gun Systems

Global Hawk Flies High, Sees All in Rim of the Pacific Navy Exercise

Northrop Proceeds Toward Flight Clearance of LITENING AT System

Raytheon Company Awarded $266 Million Standard Missile-3 Contract

Boeing Flies EA-18G Growler for First Time

Raptor meets new challenges, expands capabilities

Rockwell, Boeing and Honeywell team to pursue KC-10 upgrade program

BAE enters Phase III of commercial aircraft missile defense system program

B-2 Spirit exceeds mission standard

Lockheed Eyes Unmanned F-35 Amid Push Into Drone World

ISS: Building a Ship Outside a Shipyard

Atlantis Crew Preps for Launch

US 'knew of Israel bombing plan'

Modifications to extend service life of A-10s

More news: News desk - News Archive

In accordance with Title 17 U.S.C. Section 107, this material is distributed without profit to those who have expressed a prior interest in receiving the included information for research and educational purposes. (Disclaimer)

 

[Ernest_at_the_Beach]

fuel from secure domestic sources.

Tests to be at Edwards AFB here in California....

[NonValueAdded]

Who has a jpg of Marty McFly tossing Doc Brown's "special logs" into the firebox of that train?

[taxcontrol]

Growing acceptance of coal based fuel will improve the changes that these projects will get funded through the financial markets.

[Charles Martel]

Heck, I thought the B-52 already burned coal (I't almost old enough...)!

[Dr. Zzyzx]

You know, that's still one scary looking plane.

[Mark-in-Kentucky]

As both a patriot who would love to see our nation find its way to energy independence and a child of the coal fields in the mountains of Appalachia, this is something I hope catches on in the biggest way.

[Virginia Ridgerunner]

Damn straight---I grew up just on the other side of the border in Southwest Virginia. Both my dad and granddad were coal miners.

[JoeGar]

The F4 Phantom II, because it left a black smoke trail in the air behind it, was often referred to as a "coal burner".

[Gucho]

If successful, the tests will help pave the way for the bomber force to use fuel from secure domestic sources.


Bump!

[Marine_Uncle]

"Tests to be at Edwards AFB here in California...."
One of my sister in laws had worked for a company located in Allentown PA area some fifteen years back that where pushing this process. Many other companies where most likely also onboard. Economics and keeping a certain level of money in the coffers of certain groups always superceeds what best is for this countries national security and over all welfare, e.g. low cost fuel sources.
Though I applaude the efforts being made, I continue to be a bit, let us say angry at how corporate America working with the federal government has hamstrung this country. True patriots are not a readily available resource in this land. Perhaps in the details closely analysized, they never where.

[Alter Kaker]

Tests to be at Edwards AFB here in California....

Thailand?

[Trueblackman]

Is there nothing the BUFF can't do?

[Robert A Cook PE]

I d prefer to see this "B-52 engine money" go into REPLACING the old engines, rather than an expensive "eco-awareness" Pentagon-make-the-Midwest-congressmen-feel-better" boondoggle that it really is.

[Robert A Cook PE]

Coorection Cook: It's coal-based, not corn-based.

[bmwcyle]

There is a plan to test 747 engines on them.

[NCC-1701]

"...Is there nothing the BUFF can't do?..."

Short of giving birth, NO!

[Ernest_at_the_Beach]

Now wouldn't that be nice....and why not!

[Ernest_at_the_Beach]

Natural food guys out here say corn in cows is bad too, better nutrition from Buffalo meat cause it is eating natural....from Grass.

[Centurion2000]

You know, that's still one scary looking plane.

Especially when looking up at one flying 35,000 feet above you. Those things shook ME from 20 miles away where they were doing laydowns on Iraqi formations.