The US Air Force successfully completed a flight test of its experimental synthetic fuel with a fighter for the first time this week by using an F-15 Eagle. The F-15 seemed to take to the new fuel pretty well as it screamed up to Mach 2.2 during a 55 minute test flight. The Air Force has been testing the fuel on larger aircraft in their fleet including a C-17, a B-52 and even a B-1 that was the first to break the sound barrier using the 50-50 blend of synthetic fuel and JP-8. This new test was the first on a light and maneuverable fighter jet, though. The fuel is created by using the proven Fischer-Tropsch method of deriving fuel from coal which is a process the Germans used during WWII to satisfy their insatiable need for war-time fuel. While the synthetic fuel mix is marginally better on the environment than traditional fuel, the main reason the Air Force is conducting this research is to see if it can reduce their need for oil and save Uncle Sam a little money. The US Air Force is, after all, the world's largest consumer of jet fuel which is why they'd like to certify all of their aircraft on the new mix. Next up for testing is the Air Force's newest (and baddest) fighter, the F-22 Raptor, which could start as early as next week.
[Danger Room] [Photo: Op-For]
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Thursday, August 21, 2008
F-15 Goes Mach 2 On Synthetic Fuel
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Thanks for pointing out that the fuel is coal-derived. I'm getting heartily sick of seeing this story repeated on News sites only to find that they've thrown in some pithy comment about how 'fossil fuels are bad' - apparently not understanding that gee, coal *is* a fossil fuel. I suppose it's marginally better for the environment, but I wonder if that includes processing load? Anyway, the main point of this seems to be strategic rather than environmental or even cost-based - the US has enormous domestic coal reserves, of course.
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