Boeing Team Helps Royal Netherlands Air Force Achieve Aviation Milestone
Boeing Apache helicopter becomes the 1st rotorcraft to fly on sustainable bio-kerosene
Press Release
GILZE-RIJEN AIRBASE, Netherlands, June 16, 2010 -- Boeing [NYSE: BA]
and The Royal Netherlands Air Force (RNLAF) today made aviation history
when a Boeing AH-64D Apache became the first rotorcraft in the world to
fly using a blend of sustainable bio-kerosene and standard aviation jet fuel.
The 20-minute flight, conducted at Gilze-Rijen Airbase, home of the RNLAF's
combat rotorcraft squadrons, was witnessed by dozens of industry observers
and defense journalists.
The sustainable biofuel used in the flight was produced using algae-based
biomass and used cooking oil, and processed by UOP, LLC, a Honeywell company,
into a Bio-Synthetic Paraffinic Kerosene (Bio-SPK), which has been used in previous
commercial biofuel flights. In a series of preflight tests, the 50/50 bio-kerosene
and traditional jet fuel blend met or exceeded the JP-8 fuel specifications for the Apache.
No engine or airframe modifications were made prior to flight.
"This is a tremendous achievement for the Royal Netherlands Air Force, Boeing,
Honeywell, and the engine manufacturer GE Aviation in our efforts to develop
sustainable aviation fuel solutions," said Al Winn, vice president of Apache
Programs for Boeing, who attended the demonstration. "Both Boeing's commercial
and military customers are pursuing alternatives to fossil fuels, sharing a
vision that was demonstrated flawlessly by our Apache customer today."
"Today is an important milestone for the more intensive usage
of sustainable bio-kerosene in aviation," said Eimert van Middelkoop,
Minister of Defense of the Netherlands.
The RNLAF biofuel flight test program encompasses seven flights
that will highlight the technical feasibility of flying rotorcraft using
renewable fuels that do not reduce the availability of food crops or water.
The Ministry of Defense of the Netherlands, which authorized the flight test program,
has publicly stated its commitment to minimizing its environmental footprint of
military aircraft.
"This program also will help stimulate market development for aviation biofuel
within the Netherlands that can help improve the environmental performance of
commercial and military aviation," said Jan Närlinge, president of Boeing Northern Europe.
Boeing is engaged in sustainable biofuel research around the world and supported
the Apache flight and the RNLAF through preflight planning, testing and technical
consultation based on a strong body of biofuel experience. The company supplied
technical support to a KLM Royal Dutch Airlines biofuel flight aboard a Boeing
747 in November 2009, and also to the U.S. Navy F/A-18 Super Hornet biofuel
flight on Earth Day this year. Boeing also supported four previous biofuel
flights using varying fixed-wing commercial aircraft and engine types.
Extensive laboratory testing by fuel processors, feedstock providers
and engine manufacturers has further shown that aviation biofuels meet
or exceed the high performance and quality standards specified for military
and commercial jet fuels.
A unit of The Boeing Company, Boeing Defense, Space & Security is one of
the world's largest defense, space and security businesses specializing in
innovative and capabilities-driven customer solutions, and the world's largest
and most versatile manufacturer of military aircraft. Headquartered in St.
Louis, Boeing Defense, Space & Security is a $34 billion business with 68,000
employees worldwide.
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