SECAF certifies Fischer-Tropsch synthetic fuel blends for B-52H
Secretary of the Air Force Michael W. Wynne announced the completion of the Air Force’s certification of Fischer-Tropsch fuel blends in the B-52H during a signing ceremony here today.
The signing ceremony certified that the blended FT and JP-8 fuel is safe for operational use in all B-52H aircraft and marked the formal conclusion of testing.
“The demonstration approach approved by Secretary Wynne in April 2006 identified five execution steps,” said Maj. Gen. Curtis Bedke, Air Force Flight Test Center commander. “The final execution step began on Sept. 19, 2006. A B-52 was flown at Edwards with two engines running synthetic fuel and the remaining six engines on JP-8 fuel. On Dec. 19, 2006, the B-52 was flown with all eight engines on the FT blend.”
The B-52H was chosen as the test platform because of key advantages such as its eight engines, he said. The fuel system can simultaneously isolate, carry and manage both a test fuel and the standard JP-8 fuel.
http://www.edwards.af.mil/news/story.asp?id=123063849
SOSL...
You’re great at finding all of the techie stuff regarding military weaponry and developments. Been reading your posts for several years.
Wasn’t there an article or two a year or so ago about the USAF building facilities (perhaps on previously closed bases) for producing synthetic fuels and that it would significantly reduce the cost of fuel for aircraft?
Early in the morning here, so I may not have that right, but I remember reading about the start-up of the process.
IMO, it’s folley to use food crops for fuel. Just hurts the overall economy by raising consumer prices due to less supply. Biofuel hasn’t been shown to produce more or equal power outage to carbon based fuels and it costs more per gallon to produce.
The idiots in charge of this movement are like characters from the tale of Alice in Wonderland.
Right, it is certified for use (in B-52s), though it is not in use yet. Back when gas was $4/gallon, this made a few careers out there at WPAFB.