Biotech Updates

US Navy Assesses 100% Advanced Aircraft Biofuel

September 21, 2016
http://biofuels-news.com/display_news/11050/us_navy_tests_100_advanced_biofuel/

A US Navy Boeing EA-18G electronic attack aircraft recently completed a 100% biofuel flight from Naval Air Station Patuxent River in Maryland. The "Green Growler" aircraft flew using a bio JP-5 fuel instead of the petroleum based JP-5.

Lt. Cmdr. Bradley Fairfax, project officer and test pilot with Air Test and Evaluation Squadron (VX) 23, said that he couldn't tell the difference between the two fuels in terms of the flight conditions and the aircraft flew the same as the petroleum based JP-5 for the duration of the flight. Flight test engineer Mary Picard monitored the ground and test flights and agreed with the test pilot's observations.

This fuel program supports the secretary of the navy's (SECNAV) energy goal of increasing the use of alternative fuels in the navy by year 2020.