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 ...
Ah, but you say amen to politically correct fuels without a word about the consequences. I’d say that you are way too environmentally correct without regard to whether it works or not - (both economically and environmentally).
Have you determined the extra costs required for this fuel? Have you figured the availability, especially during wartime?
You are way too anxious to accept these decisions without questioning the government’s decisions.
Yes I have determined the extra costs. There are extra costs for all new technology. I see the science. If it works go with it, if it does not dump it
Sorry, that day has long since passed. Today, the Generals have second say in war or otherwise - just ask Obama.
It matters who is Commander in Chief...
I think that we should bring back the days the generals and admirals made the decisios.Politicians neither have the time or the training for strategic thought.
Oh geez... Do you really believe what you are saying! Of course the government give a damn about cost! They will go with what is currently environmentally correct (at least according to their highest contributors). I know you actually realize that so don’t try to pull wool over others eyes.
One of the first things that you’ve said that I agree with, unfortunately those days are long gone...
There are cost over runs for everything especially in military manners. You know that.
Name me one military program in the last 20 years that came on time on on budget.
And it must be a weapon system.
Ah, but there is a difference in cost overruns and the government mandating an outcome regardless of cost, but cowing to an environmental group.
It’s one thing to specify, get bids, and then get cost overruns - quite another to specify the fuel regardless of the costs (because of environmental concerns). There is a difference. Sorry that you don’t see that.
This is an Air Force decision for 50/50 fuels and it was made in 2007 when Bush was the president.
As if that has any effect! Both parties have been partisan to environmental groups regardless of costs to the government. What is new there?
Dont tell me Bush 43 is an enviormentalist. He had to know.
The program began in 2006 under Donald Rumsfeld’s watch
I certainly do not think that Donald Rumsfeld is an enviormentalist
Oh please! You have to know that politicians do whatever to get elected - or maintain their public image. The environmentalists have been hammering politicians for decades and the results we now see are now only the result of today’s politicians but because of yesterday’s political jokers (yes, including Bush).
All have succumbed to political pressures, especially the environmental pay for play folks. Today is just a repeat of past surrenders to the same folks.
Today’s results are not only a result of past surrenders but heighten by the current political pressures.
But Donald Rumsfeld is not an elected official
I sure that Donald Rumsfeld despises enviormentalists
Come on - he was appointed politically. You know better...
Actually I really like him but came to realize that he would do whatever his bosses told him to do...
Its his department, he ran it his way not according to an elected official.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.