Biomass-derived fuel tested on US air force plane

A US air force test pilot successfully flew an A-10 Thunderbolt II jet aircraft at Eglin Air Force Base on March 25, testing a blend of biomass-derived and conventional JP-8 jet fuel.

It was the first time such a flight had been carried out using this specific jet fuel blend.

The biomass fuel was created from camelina oil, a flowering plant, and the fuel is called hydro-treated renewable jet fuel, or HRJ.

The test was part of the Air Force's alternative aviation fuel program, which has the aim of introducing HRJ onto its F-15 Eagle, F-22 Raptor and C-17 Globemaster III planes.

The scheme is also part of the Air Force's 2010 Energy Plan goal to be prepared to cost-competitively acquire 50% of domestic aviation fuel from an alternative fuel blend by 2016.

‘The Air Force recognises its role as a leader in energy management,’ says Terry Yonkers, assistant secretary of the Air Force for installations, environment and logistics. ‘This demonstration underscores our commitment to advancing technologies that increase our use of renewable energy and reduce our consumption of imported foreign oil.’