Virgin Atlantic testing Bio-fuel on Jumbo Jet
by Matthew Sparkes, London, UK on 10.16.07
Virgin boss, Richard Branson, has announced that not only will his company begin producing bio-fuels, but that he is going to test them out on one of his own 747s. Would you want to be on this maiden flight?
Speaking to the Mortgage Bankers Association, of all things, he said that by the start of next decade his company will be producing their own bio-fuels for use in buses, trains and cars.
"Early next year we will fly one of our 747s without passengers with one of the fuels that we have developed," said Branson. Branson has previously mentioned cellulosic ethanol as one potential source, but said that there are problems with it freezing above 15,000 feet, and that butanol may be more suitable. Virgin will be working with Boeing and GE Aviation to create the fuel.
Previous tests using a blend of bio-fuel and regular aviation fuel have been performed before, such as that performed by CFM International. They used a 30% vegetable oil methyl ester / 70% Jet-A1 fuel mix.
“Our goal is to support the industry in identifying replacements for traditional hydrocarbon-based fuels, including synthetic fuels that use a mixture of bio-fuels and jet fuel,” said Pierre Thouraud, vice president of engineering at CFM.
Air New Zealand has also announced that they have plans to test a flight with a combination of biofuel and kerosene late next year as well.
Branson has previously pledged to spend any profit he makes on his airline business for the next ten years on fighting global warming, and also founded Virgin Fuels in order to invest $400 million in research into renewable energy.
Although the flight will not be carrying passengers, I think that it should carry an environmental journalist. Like me. Anyone from Virgin PR, please get in touch... ::Reuters ::Picture Source
While I can only applaud anything that helps reduce the ever growing greenhouse gas emissions from aviation traffic, and I believe that biofuels will help put a big dent in these increases, I wonder what kinds of renewable resources they will be using for biofuel. I hope it will be something appropriate and not some plant source that leads to significant food price rises in countries that can least afford price rises, especially in basics like corn. I wish the airlines success with biofuels - the right kinds of biofuels. Lets not substitute one problem with another.
hmmmm GE Aviation, is that Genetically Engineered Aviation? GE crops are probably where this fuel will come from. Branson would have a much greater impact on the Environment if his prices reflected the true cost of aviation. Once again he is jumping on a Green bandwagon. He should be applauded for his business and entrepreneurial skills but please can we start to see him as he is, a businessman not a hippy.
Lets grow crops for food not fuel and invest time and money into a real renewable portable energy source.
HELLO;
I AM PLEASED WITH THE WAY MISTER BRANSON HAS THE BALLS TO DO THINGS THAT EVERYBODY ELSE IS AFRAID TO DO.
WE ARE A VERY SMALL COMPANY HERE IN CLEARWATER, FL. AND WE ARE USING BIO-DIESEL THAT IS MADE WITH OLD COOKING OILS AND IS PUT IN OUR DUMP TRUCKS TO BUILD PINELLAS COUNTY'S FUTURE ROADS.
WE PRIDE OURSELVES IN TRYING OUT NEW AND INNOVATIVE IDEAS FROM OTHERS WHEN AVAILABLE.
WE ARE IN A REAL ESTATE CRISIS WHICH HAS RUINED THE HOUSING MARKET, WHICH IN TURN HAS RUINED EVERYBODY ELSE THAT IS IN THE CONSTRUCTION BUSINESS.
WE HOPE THAT WE ARE HELPING TO PAVE THE PATH TO THE INEVITABLE, WHICH IS THE NEW FUTURE OF TRYING TO SAVE OUR PLANET.
DUMP TRUCKIN!
RICHIE RICH