Air New Zealand 747 flies successful biofuel test flight
December 31, 2008 - 12:43PM - Sydney Morning Herald
Air New Zealand has successfully flown a test flight powered by second-generation biofuel, hailing it as a "significant milestone" in the development of sustainable fuels for aircraft.
The airline used a 50-50 blend of standard jet fuel and synthetic fuel made from the oil of jatropha plant seeds to power one of the engines on a Boeing 747 during a two-hour test flight from Auckland International Airport on Tuesday.
It was the world's first test flight using jatropha biofuel and followed a Virgin Atlantic test flight earlier in the year using a blend including coconut oil and babassu nut oil.
"We undertook a range of tests on the ground and in flight with the jatropha biofuel performing well through both the fuel system and engine," Air New Zealand chief pilot Dave Morgan said.
Further analysis of the Rolls-Royce engine and fuel systems will now be conducted as the airline works to have jatropha certified as an aviation fuel.
The test flight was a joint venture involving Air New Zealand, Boeing, Rolls-Royce and Honeywell company UOP, with support from Terasol Energy.
Air New Zealand chief executive Rob Fyfe said the completion of the flight was "a significant milestone" towards becoming an "environmentally sustainable airline."
Prime Minister John Key, who is also tourism minister, described the flight as a "historic day for aviation," noting that the fortunes of Air New Zealand and New Zealand's tourism industry were closely tied.
AFP
I wonder what the long-term effects on engines will be?
I recall an article somewhere about 18 months ago saying that the jatropha bush was unlikely to be used as alternative energy but can't remember why. It's supposed to be a poisonous weed used as a constipation remedy!