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 ...
Can they get biofuels to work in Moochelle’s broom too?
Big freaking deal. Is it any cheaper?
Flame-outs, the new problem to overcome I guess...
Wanna bbet that it's actually more expensive? By several orders of magnitude?
And that one of Obama's donors owns the company that got the contract?
biofuels... like ethanol?
loads of ethanol from corn eating the seals in our cars... what will 5+ years of that stuff do to a jet?
Currently biofuels are running at 10 times the cost of jetfuel at $35 per gallon but as technology improves and more commonly used the price will go down.
The Ohio Air National Guard has using the fuel since December and there has been no reports of trouble. Its mentioned in the article.
The United States Air Force (USAF) is the largest energy consumer in the Department of Defense (DoD).Volatile oil prices force the USAF to divert money from training budgets and weapon system procurement accounts in order to cover increased costs due to unbudgeted fuel expenses
It’s at least 700% more expensive, for now. They’re doing this to the Navy, also, and all the leading companies are big contributors to the Muslim Bisexual.
Well, that’s a relief. Now I guess it will just be if they can afford it. Other problems may occur later... I really hate the government mandating certain fuels since they seem to be so environmentally correct in their selections, regardless of the consequences.
It’s just a contingency plan.
You don’t want to be caught with your drawers down if JP8 goes dry
Like any technology the costs are high but over time the cost drops.
Remember calculators were very expensive at the beginning and as time progressed the cost fell
I agree
This is wise, and has been going on far before Zero began his rule.
Historically, denial of fuel = denial of forces. Anything that makes our forces more flexible makes them more dangerous.
Something like 2 million gallons worth of pond scum, as I recall.
Well, we’re borrowing 40 cents of every dollar the government is spending...
Trading dependency on foreign oil for dependency on foreign banks...Custer had a plan, too, I guess...
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