BioJet I makes historic flight over Reno, Nevada on 100% biodiesel
Sure, we've shown you plenty of jet engines powered by 100% biodiesel before, but one thing separates each of them from our latest find: they were all operated on the ground. An L-29 military aircraft powered solely by 100 percent biodiesel has now been successfully flown over Reno, Nevada. Biodiesel Solutions and Green Flight International collaborated on this project, which has as its goal to reduce the impact that jet travel has on the environment. Before the machine was taken into the air, extensive testing was performed on the ground with various biodiesel and jet-fuel blended concoctions. Finally, the pilot and crew deemed that the machine ran as normal using B100 and this performance was taken 17,000 feet above ground. Well done!
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[Source: Gizmag]
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
eliza 1:33AM (4/28/2009)
hi
I appreciate the concern which is been rose. The things need to be sorted out because it’s not about the individual but it can be with everyone.
Eliza
Drug Intervention Nevada
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Mike Z 10:51PM (10/28/2007)
Biodiesel can but used in a jet no problem--that was never the issue. The issue is it's temperature issues. A short flight to 17,000 ft is not a major accomplishment. Try 38,000 ft for a few hours at -40 degrees.
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GenWaylaid 2:38PM (10/29/2007)
Given that the engine needs to be de-tuned a bit to run diesel and that diesel is heavier than kerosene, how would the specific fuel consumption compare to normal? No airline would biodiesel if there was a significant range penalty.
The temperature objection is very important. Jet-A1 freezes around -47 C. Petroleum diesel gels at -17 C. Biodiesel gels at even higher temperatures. Without heated fuel tanks, any sustained stratospheric flight will get cold enough to gel the fuel. There has to be a provision to melt everything in the tank, because running dry early would be absolutely unacceptable from a safety standpoint.
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SkyMachines USA 6:31PM (1/05/2008)
So we have to heat the tanks like we do the leading edges of the wings; what's the big deal? Jet engines should be able to produce enough bleed air to heat it all.
Marc
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