Algae-Based Biofuel to Power Virgin Atlantic 747 Jet?
A Boeing 747 jet, using 20 percent biofuel in one engine, is expected to take off from London’s Heathrow Airport and fly to Amsterdam in late February. The test flight will be without passengers and is part of a research project being conducted by the airline, Boeing and the maker of the engine, GE Aviation.
Interestingly, sources were specific that the biofuel used will be from a very sustainable source, but not one that would compete with food or fresh water sources. Algae is mentioned several times in the story.
Certain varieties of algae have been identified as a possible feedstock, which contains a much higher energy content than oilseeds and can be far less demanding on the environment.
The engine to be used in the test, GE’s CF6, will not require any modification for the flight, and the use of biofuel is not expected to have a negative effect on the engine’s performance or range.
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January 15th, 2008 at 8:11 pm
Have there been tests like this before, as I would suspect, in the aviation industry? I’m guessing this is the first of this size.
January 30th, 2008 at 6:03 am
None that I’m aware of, only in static testing the engines, I’ve not heard of a plane of any size using biofuel in flight.
February 2nd, 2008 at 8:43 am
[...] meanwhile had planned their test in late February, as explained in this story, Algae-Based Biofuel to Power Virgin Atlantic 747 Jet?, filed on Jan 15. How useful is this post? 0(0 [...]
February 22nd, 2008 at 6:37 pm
[...] was first reported in January that Virgin Atlantic would test flight a Boeing 747 jetliner using a biofuel, without naming the [...]
August 21st, 2008 at 5:27 pm
[...] Algae-Based Biofuel to Power Virgin Atlantic 747 Jet? [...]
September 3rd, 2008 at 6:13 pm
[...] Algae-Based Biofuel to Power Virgin Atlantic 747 Jet? [...]
September 4th, 2008 at 9:07 pm
@Noelle This is a long-overdue post, but it should be noted that South African Airways did some studies a while back using synthetic fuels, and is now flying regularly with a blend of jet fuel and synthetic fuel made from… either natural gas or coal, I forget which. It’s not exactly algae fuel, but it’s a commercial entity using a semi-alternative fuel. Also the US Air Force is studying the use of synthetic fuels using a B-52 bomber.
September 9th, 2008 at 10:09 pm
[...] Algae-Based Biofuel to Power Virgin Atlantic 747 Jet? [...]
September 20th, 2008 at 7:38 am
It took 150,000 coconuts! Yeah that’s going to work out long term. I used this thing called ‘Google’ to look it up. Try it.