US Military Alternative Aircraft Fuel Research Site

Construction has begun on a new hi-tech alternative fuel site that will allow US military scientists to carry out research into the new military aircraft fuels of the future.  The facility will be sited on Wright-Patterson Air Force Base – the home of the USAF’s Institute of Technology and a key weapons testing area.  The new site will be known as the Assured Aerospace Fuels Research Facility, cost $2.5 million to build and – according to current scheduling – will be completed in around 12 months time. 

Once and up running, the Assured Aerospace Fuels Research Facility will have the capacity to produce up to 25 gallons of biomass or coal-derived fuel each day.  This in-house fuel production capability – according to USAF officials – will remove the need to draw on external, commercial fuel sources.  Two days worth of fuel produced at this kind of rate would be sufficient to allow a small jet engine to be put through testing – the officials added.

In coming years, the USAF wants to be in a situation where domestic fuel is being used in preference to imported fuel, which is getting ever-more expensive.  It is also looking towards a future scenario where environmentally friendly, energy efficient fuel technologies form a major part of its operations. 

Alternative Fuels: Aircraft

The USAF’s ultimate goal is to power its entire fleet of aircraft using alternative fuels, and it has been involved in a number of recent tests to this end.  In August 2008, a USAF F-15 Eagle air superiority fighter achieved a speed in excess of Mach 2 on a synthetic fuel blend, while both strategic bomber and transport aircraft have taken part in previous, alternative fuel flights. 

Military Fuel Research

US military fuel research is not just confined to the air force – all branches are involved in some way.  The US Army, for example, is looking into hybrid fuel technologies for its Humvee armoured vehicles, while the US Navy is assessing the prospect of biofuel-powered warships. 

“The Air Force Research Laboratory has been a center of excellence for fuel research, and this facility allows us to expand that into the alternative fuel arena”, laboratory representative Tim Edwards stated in comments published by news agency AP.  “We expect a lot of graduate students from different universities to come here and for it to be used in collaboration with industry as well”, he added.

See also:

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