F-15E Strike Eagle Flies On An Environmentally-Friendly,
Biomass-Derived Fuel
Specialists at Eglin Air Force Base conducted their second
aircraft performance evaluation using an environmentally-friendly,
biomass-derived fuel, this time with an F-15E Strike Eagle. The jet
flew at a variety of flight conditions, achieved supersonic speeds,
and landed with no issues, though it was powered with a
hydro-processed renewable jet blend fuel Oct. 22 according to the
U.S. Air Force Alternative Fuels Certification Office.
"The flight went as expected; we didn't anticipate any issues
going into it," said Maj. Matthew Coldsnow, the 40th Flight Test
Squadron pilot who flew the first F-15E flight using something
other than the common kerosene-based jet propellant 8 fuel. "The
chemical properties are very similar to that of normal fuel. I
didn't notice any change in thrust or performance degradation."
The biofuel blend used for the flight was composed of 50 percent
HRJ mixed with 50 percent JP-8. The HRJ used for this evaluation
was derived from extracted animal fats and oils, and then refined
into a kerosene using conventional processes. In March, an A-10
Thunderbolt II flew on a 50/50 JP-8/HRJ blend derived from oil
extracted from camelina seeds, a weed-like, non-food-source plant.
"Alternative fuels testing allows the Air Force to look at
alternative fuels from non-petroleum sources, an effort that kicked
off in 2006," said 1st Lt. Luke Gaalswyk, with the Alternative
Fuels Certification Office. "The larger picture of using these
fuels is that it allows the Air Force to purchase more fuel from
inside our borders, in turn reducing our dependence on foreign
oil."
Air Force officials are embracing national priorities of cleaner
fuel and energy independence. "The Air Force is working toward an
ambitious goal of changing half of the continental U.S. jet fuel
requirement to alternative fuels by 2016," said Air Force Material
Command Commander Gen. Donald J. Hoffman. If successful, the move
could represent as much as 400 millions gallons of fuel
annually.
During the test, the pilot took off in afterburner and explored
a variety of speeds and altitudes while remaining within the
aircraft's approved flight envelope. "The next step is additional
flight and engine testing to build on data we have with a high
level of confidence that we can certify this fuel for operational
use in operational aircraft," Lieutenant Gaalswyk said.
File Photo
"The Air Force is committed to reducing our reliance on foreign
oil," said Terry Yonkers, the assistant secretary of the Air Force
for installations, environment and logistics. "Our goal is to
reduce demand, increase supply and change the culture and mindset
of our fuel consumption." The Air Force is the largest user of jet
fuel in DOD, consuming 2.4 billion gallons per year. He said the
short-term goal is to have all Air Force aircraft certified to fly
using alternative fuels by 2012.