When the six F/A-18 Hornets in the U.S. Navy's Blue Angels flight demonstration team thrill the crowds at the Naval Air Station Patuxent River Air Expo in Maryland this weekend, they'll be soaring on biofuel.
Each of the six Hornets will be powered by a 50/50-blend of jet fuel and camelina-based biofuel, according to a Navy press release.
Camelina is a high-oil flowering plant grown in rotation on land used for wheat and on land too marginal for food production, according to Sustainable Oils, the company providing it to the military. Sustainable Oils says camelina can also reduce carbon emissions by 80% over jet fuel.
The camelina mix has been successfully tested in several military aircraft, including the Air Force's A-10 Thunderbolt, F-15 Eagle, F-22 Raptor and C-17 Globemaster, as well as the Navy F/A-18. Two Air Force F-16s from the Thunderbirds demonstration team flew with the mix during a performance in May, the service and Sustainable Fuels said.
"This will be the first time an entire unit has flown on a biofuel mix," Navy Secretary Ray Mabus said in the Navy release. "Changing the kinds of fuels we use and the way we use them is critical to assuring the Navy and Marine Corps remain the most formidable expeditionary fighting force the world has ever known."
By 2016, the Navy plans to deploy the Great Green Fleet, an aircraft carrier strike group powered entirely by non-fossil fuels, Mabus has said.
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Great. Let's pay a higher price just to be PC. That's the problem when civilian sissies have say over the military.
The push for non-fossil fuels by the military is related to logistical realities and fears of shortages, and in the case of land vehicles which other services are looking to use technology such as electric and electric hybrid vehicles, they are doing so to address real issues faced in recent conflicts. A lot of IED attacks in Iraq were related to fuel convoys. If out troops didn't have to protect fuel convoys there would have been a lot less death and injury due to IEDs.
This has nothing to do with being PC and everything to do with controlling supplies.
At least when fossil fuel runs out they will be ahead of the curve in what to use next as fuel. Better than having a billion dollars worth of doorstops. This has nothing to do with civilian "sissies" and everything to do with the military thinking ahead to maintain an unbroken chain of capability. But then, you probably can't see past the end of your twinkie.
If you want to be a neoconservative troll, fine, but try to recognize it's not just "political correctness." A force's dependence on fuel and the logistics needed to obtain and supply that fuel has always been a critical weakness, one that has caused wars in the past, will cause wars in the future, and that has brought empires to their knees.
@joseph cooke: Just to be pc? You're an idiot. It's about getting the US off the middle-eastern teat.
New technology costs more. It'll come down. Always does. Remember microwaves? PLUS, maybe american farmers can *make* money. Sounds like jobs. Gobama.
I premoated alcohol mix for gasoline after it was proven that gasoline burns more complete with a 12 percent mix. They cut octain levels down to keep from harming the engine. Later the government allowed fermiters on farms to cut transport cost. As far as food prices,they use spoiled watermelons they cant sell or when farmers have to destroy crops to make money if over production drops prices,its best to fermit the over production for fuel. Biodiesel is different and can be made from any plant. Even lawn cuttings. Search on line biofuel from trash. Lot of misinformation on engine damage too. Prove to me that people never had damaged valves from straight gasoline. You cant. And as for methane and alcohol mix,the petro industry has used that half a centry now and obviously cheaper than petro or they wouldnt have used it at natural gas pipeline booster stations. Request facts from this libtard i deliver.
My grandpa used to make what he called grassahol with grass clippings and a still in his garage. He used the grassahol to run his lawnmower.
Perpetual lawncare.
I premoated alcohol mix for gasoline after it was proven that gasoline burns more complete with a 12 percent mix. They cut octain levels down to keep from harming the engine. Later the government allowed fermiters on farms to cut transport cost. As far as food prices,they use spoiled watermelons they cant sell or when farmers have to destroy crops to make money if over production drops prices,its best to fermit the over production for fuel. Biodiesel is different and can be made from any plant. Even lawn cuttings. Search on line biofuel from trash. Lot of misinformation on engine damage too. Prove to me that people never had damaged valves from straight gasoline. You cant. And as for methane and alcohol mix,the petro industry has used that half a centry now and obviously cheaper than petro or they wouldnt have used it at natural gas pipeline booster stations. Request facts from me i deliver.
I've heard about this stuff. I'm very curious if it has an effect on the total thrust output. I'm also curious how clean it is inside the aircraft i.e. does it leave any residues that jet fuel didn't etc.
I've been using biodiesel in my car for over 20 years. It is truly a superior fuel. It is far cleaner than diesel (inside the engine) and actually lubricates the valves and rings while the moter is running. 253,000 miles @ 58 MPG and still going.
yeah... but how many chicks can you pick up in that car? it gets 0cpg= zero chicks per gallon
Lol
I don't "pick up chicks". I treat all women with the same respect I show my daughter, mother and spouse.
SO your whipped and drive a crummy car cause your wife holds the purse strings?.
.
Where is banasy today? Maybe she choked on a santorum covered corndog at the football game last night!!!
@ Drakorex1
No one has ever won any one to their point of view by making crude remarks about others
Your opinion of Banasy falls flat on deaf ears
I've never seen her START insulting ppl
Asian people make me hungry for chinese food!
opps, well maybe once!
Yeah.. Was gonna say lol
Now they need to change their names from the Blue Angels to the Green Angels.
Ya know, they really should.
With the BLUE ANGELS SWITCHING OVER TO BIO FUEL DONT THAT MAKE THEM GREEN ANGELS
where is banasy today? maybe she choked on a santorum flavored corndog at the football game last night!!!
DAG NABBIT BOBCAT just shows how 2 great minds think alike
Ain't it the truth -- Ain't it the truth ( spoken with cowardly lion voice ) lol
Ruffie....*Facepalm*™
Chicks per gallon?
Lmao!
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Thanks, Jazzzzzzz.
Hi there lee bobcat and jazzzzz