Posted on 03/01/2012 8:36:24 PM PST by U-238
In case you haven’t seen this, the Air Force is flying F-16s on biofuel derived from the camelina plant. Yup, years after the air service certified most of its aviation fleet to fly on coal-derived synthetic fuel (stuff that was pioneered by the Nazis and apartheid-era South African governments because no one liked them and the world cut off their oil supplies) it is now certifying its jets to fly on something a little more environmentally friendly.
(The Navy has been working to get its ships and planes certified to run on biofuels for a while now, too.)
Its plan to certify its aviation fleet to run biofuel is very similar to its previous effort with coal-based fuels. The F-16s are being checked out to fly on a 50/50 blend of camelina oil and regular JP-8 jet fuel. The service has long said that it wants to use its status as the government’s biggest energy buyer t drive the market for alternative fuels that are produced in the United States. This would reduce the military’s reliance on foreign oil, service officials have argued.
Here’s what the service has to say about the effort.
In a joint effort by Airmen from the Air Force Research Laboratory at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Ohio, and Airmen from the Ohio Air National Guard’s 180th Fighter Wing, the F-16 Fight Falcon is currently undergoing a field service evaluation of biofuel.
As the largest consumer of energy in the Defense Department and $8 billion spent on fuel in fiscal 2011, Air Force officials are working toward making the fleet a little “greener” by researching, testing and ultimately implementing the use of alternative fuels.
(Excerpt) Read more at defensetech.org ...
Its his department, he ran it his way not according to an elected official.
Its his department, he ran it his way not according to an elected official. He reported to the POTUS
The only elected official that counted was the POTUS and the VPOTUS
Okay, I think you need to calm down. You seem to think that Republicans have no problems or maybe just not some of your favorite officials.
Come on, you have to grow up sometime and realize that most of your heroes are political heroes only because they were on your side.
Most of the decisions regarding the military are made by group resolution. They seldom have little regard for the actual outcome when it involves money spent. It really is based on who supports who, and how much money they gave.
That is politics.
The same applies on what and where money is spent. If you look at either Republican or Democratic administrations, you can get a good idea of where and how money is allocated.
Both are politically motivated and adhere to political pressure by groups.
Yes, loved Rumsfield but he did not always get his way. He was a small cog in the political wheel.
Do you think that Rumsfeld cared about outside groups outside his department? His bosses were the POTUS and the VPOTUS.They made the decisions.
Yes, I do think that he cared about both his image and how it affected others - as most normally would. Do I think that he made decisions based on just that, no I don’t.
I think that between he and Bush, they made decisions that were not necessarily cost effective but good for them.
Rumsfeld never cared(or seemed to care) about his image.He hated the media. You can tell when he was giving interviews. He was focused on two wars at the time.
He was hired to do a job not win a popularity contest
Well, I agree that he never really cared about the Media. He did however care about his legacy. I really liked him and appreciated his efforts. I am just simply pointing out to you the politics involved in both his and POTUS’s decisions.
Rumsfeld was was far more honest and forthright with the public.
Okay, I can agree with that! He was one of my favorites.
Loved the way that he antagonized the press.
Under George W Bush and Donald Rumsfeld, the Pentagon received an infusion of cash to build the weapon systems such as BMD and led to al-Qaeda being nearly wiped off.
Hillary’s also.
Oh, if GWB was in power when a decision was made, that makes me feel a LOT better /sarc
I think Obama is worse, but that is not to say I approve of everything that GWB did or tried to do.
If the purpose were to determine the potential and explore contingencies, that would be OK, but Obama acts as if "green technology" is the Holy Grail, no matter how much it costs, or how much its immediate use would weaken us.
I have no doubt you can find military personnel who sincerely believe in "green energy," but we already have too many such Obama "investments" to make his friends happy.
Yep. You do seem a bit obsessed with Rumsfeld and Bush. I do not qualify you statements here - they were okay. Actually, Rumsfeld was better.
Time to go to bed though...
Sorry, but all of these decisions were based upon environmental group pressure - no matter party. All were wrong because of that. I give a darn when this started.
Heh! Have to agree there! Kind of like that sign about Bush “Miss me yet?”... Sure do!
Sorry, should have said “You Betcha!”...
Seems the clock is ticking towards the time when the ammo box will have to be substituted.
Sort of like John Fogarty's piece, you can almost hear it singing:
"Oh, put me in, Coach - I'm ready to play today;"
Put me in, Coach - I'm ready to play today;"
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