Fri, May 20, 2011
Air Show At Joint Base Andrews Will Be Flown With
Camelina-Based Fuel
The Thunderbirds will use alternative fuel, unprecedented for
any Department of Defense aerial team, at the Joint Services Open
House at Joint Base Andrews in the Washington, DC area May 20 and
21, officials said Wednesday. The team will fly with Camelina-based
hydrotreated renewable jet fuel as part of the nation's overall
strategy to reduce reliance on foreign energy and establish greater
energy security through conservation and use of "home grown"
alternative energy sources, said Terry Yonkers, the assistant
secretary of the Air Force for installations, environment and
logistics.
The economic impact to the Air Force resulting from these types
of energy efficiency initiatives could be savings in the "hundreds
of millions of dollars on an annual basis," Yonkers said. "We are
changing the culture of the Air Force, from our operators to every
Airman that's out there turning lights off and being conscious
about energy," Mr. Yonkers said. "This is going to be another
marker for aviation history as these precision teams come out here
and do the wonderful things that they do on JP-8 and biofuels and
we're not going to see any difference when they're sitting in the
stands."
Mr. Yonkers explained the Air Force has, to date, tested and
certified biofuel as a 50-percent blend with regular jet fuel in
the A-10 Thunderbolt II, the F-15 Eagle, the C-17 Globemaster III,
and the F-22 Raptor, adding that fleetwide certification is on
track for completion in 2013. The service continues to test and
evaluate biomass fuels derived from camelina, or plant seed oil,
beef tallow, or animal fat, and various waste oils and greases.
Members of the demonstration team said the use of "green" fuel
fits into the overall Thunderbirds mission and will be transparent
to both users and spectators. "The mission is to represent the
pride, precision and professionalism of the nearly 700,000 Airmen
of our Air Force ... at the same time we are showing the Air
Force's dedication to alternative fuel, so it's a great
opportunity," said Lt. Col. Case Cunningham, the lead pilot and
Thunderbirds commander.
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