Superfuel transport trial biofuel

C-17 heavy military transport aircraft is used by the US Air Force for biofuel test flights.

The US Air Force conducted a test flight with the Boeing C-17 Globemaster III with fuel mixed with JP-Jet Propelled (JP-8) with biofuel at Edwards Air Force Base in California.

C-17 heavy military transport aircraft. (Image: Wikimedia.org)

Military journals Jane's yesterday said the flights were made by test flight No. 418 between 23 August and 27 August. This is the first time the US Air Force has used biofuels for its flights, and is considered the initial effort to replace the JP-8 fuel with other fuels.

During the test, the C-17 flew on all four engines with JP-8 fuel blended in a 50: 25/25 ratio. These fuels include: 50% JP-8, 25% biofuel derived from animal fats, 25% fossil fuel.

Flying trials with 50% of the biofuels conducted by the US Air Force are considered one of the efforts to replace old fuel with environmentally friendly fuels. Expected actual use starting in 2016.