US Navy completes unmanned biofuel flight

The US Navy has flown an MQ-8B Fire Scout helicopter on a blend of biofuel and jet fuel, it said on 4 October.

The unmanned biofuel-powered flight took place at Webster Field in St. Inigoes, Maryland. The Unmanned Aircraft Systems Test Directorate piloted the aircraft, which used a blend of camelina-based fuel and JP-5 aviation fuel.

'Today's flight marks a significant milestone with Fire Scout being the Navy's first unmanned aircraft to use biofuel technology,' says Bill Shannon, program executive officer for Unmanned Aviation and Strike Weapons.

'I am very pleased we can add MQ-8B to the list of successful bio-flights completed at Pax River this year, bringing us one step closer to achieving the Navy's energy goals.'

The Fire Scout helicopter is the seventh aircraft to be found capable of running on biofuels while performing in all aspects of naval aviation.