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 ...
That sounds very scientific. So what is the raw energy source? the bio-source? Weeds? Biomass Hitlers secret formula turns weeds into fuel?
You remind me of the poster that claimed that all the energy we needed was on the moon and we could just cart it back to use it.
Biomass is plant matter used to generate electricity with steam turbines & gasifiers or produce heat, usually by direct combustion. Examples include forest residues (such as dead trees, branches and tree stumps), yard clippings, wood chips and even municipal solid waste
http://topics.nytimes.com/top/news/business/energy-environment/biofuels/index.html
Biomass is plant matter used to generate electricity with steam turbines & gasifiers or produce heat, usually by direct combustion. Examples include forest residues (such as dead trees, branches and tree stumps), yard clippings, wood chips and even municipal solid waste
http://topics.nytimes.com/top/news/business/energy-environment/biofuels/index.html
“The F–T process has been applied on a large scale in some industrial sectors, although its popularity is hampered by high capital costs, high operation and maintenance costs, the uncertain and volatile price of crude oil, and environmental concerns. “
Sounds like ethanol part 2.
I think I mentioned it in post number 16 and 25
Certifying for use and actually "using" it are two different things. B-52's were certified in December 2006. That test program ended in 2007. I doubt any B-52s fly on a blended fuel today. It costs too much.
I think I mentioned it on post 11, 16 and 25 about cost
lol... you must have missed my chart.
It is. This guy reminds me of Willie Green and his trains.
Im sorry that I did not mention your chart
http://www.dod.mil/ddre/doc/Jul08_Synthetic_Fuel_Utilization_Report_to_Congress.pdf
http://envirofuel.wordpress.com/2007/09/09/b-52-certified-for-synthetic-fuel-blends/
I have to do a vanity on “How I knew ethanol would be a disaster”
Notice like Al Gore he wont invest his own money in this next scam but he wants it taken from us instead. Like ethanol and solar panels
I don’t like seeing the military being constantly used as a test vehicle to push the liberal agenda for social change and feel-good political correctness.
That has been the rule since the Clinton era and it is going to cause us great sorrow someday.
The function of the military is to protect America, Americans and our freedoms.
It does not exist to give liberal politicians an easy way to force their whacky ideas on the country.
Although that is how they use it.
I hope the pilots don't end up dead the way the Columbia astronauts ended up after NASA went to "green" foam on its shuttles in order to pander to the Democrat enviro-Nazis. I think that "green" foam was certified, too.
Pilots constantly report on any changes they have noticed when there are new additions to their planes. If the Ohio Air National Guard has not noticed any problems its ok. But I would like the USAF to keep tabs just to be on the safe side
The Air Force is now political. Is that okay?
No, I do not think that its OK.
No, I do not think that its not ok. War should be left to the generals not the politicians.
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