Pratt & Whitney Military Engines Power Biofuel Tests for U.S. Air Force

A Pratt & Whitney F100-PW-220 engine recently powered its first biofuel test flight of a U.S. Air Force F-15 Eagle at Eglin Air Force Base, Fla. This flight test, powered by alternative jet fuel, comes on the heels of engine ground testing completed earlier this year at Arnold Engineering Development Center in Tennessee. These tests directly support the U.S. Air Force’s goal of acquiring half of its domestic jet fuel requirements from alternate sources by 2016. Pratt & Whitney is a United Technologies Corp. (NYSE:UTX) company.

This is Pratt & Whitney’s second military engine to successfully complete ground and flight tests using biofuels. A C-17 Globemaster III, powered exclusively by four Pratt & Whitney F117 engines, completed testing in August. Similar tests are planned for the F119 in the near future.

“We are pleased with the performance of our military engines using alternate jet fuels during ground and flight tests,” said Bev Deachin, vice president, Military Programs and Customer Support, Pratt & Whitney. “These successful tests are in direct support of our U.S. Air Force customer’s goal to acquire and use alternate jet fuel sources for its fleet.”

The flight tests blended Hydrotreated Renewable Jet (HRJ), an eco-friendly alternative from sources including animal fats or plant extracts such as camelina, with traditional JP-8 jet fuel. Ground testing also included a blend of JP-8 jet fuel, HRJ, and a synthetic fuel made from coal.

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