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May 16, 2011

United Airlines Eco-Skies Committment




United's eco-skies logoUnited has a green sustainability program called eco-skies.  Among the highlights of the program are ...

... over 300 planes with winglets that reduce emissions by up to 5% ... 3600+ service vehicles that are either electric or alternative fueled ... recycling over 3 millions lbs plastic and aluminum from flight service over a 5  year period ... 

"First U.S. biofuel and synthetic fuel demonstration flights and signed letters of intent to advance cost-efficient and environmentally responsible alternative jet fuels derived from biomass feedstock ..."

 

Via:  United  LINK

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May 08, 2010

Biofuel Jet at Pax River NAS: FA-18




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April 01, 2010

Green Hornet Biofuel Jet






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December 11, 2009

Fuel Cell Powered Planes a Possibliity




Here is another example of military technology that will have significant civilian benefit ... in this case fuel cell powered unmanned drones (very small planes). "The Ion Tiger is small prop driven plane that promises to carry a five pound payload and stay aloft for more than 24 hours ... power source is series of hydrogen fuel cells that crank out 500 watt ... power the three quarter horsepower prop motor ..." "On Oct. 9-10, the 37-pound Ion Tiger stayed aloft for 23 hours and 17 minutes at the Aberdeen Proving Ground in Maryland, just missing its 24 hour goal ..." "... advantages to a hydrogen-powered craft like Ion Tiger ... cheaper and fuel (water!) and zero emissions assuming the hydrogen comes from a non-polluting source ... biggest advantage is the absence of heat and noise generated by an internal combustion engine which makes the Ion Tiger is hard to detect. " Check out the viedo below ... Via: SmartPlanet LINK

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December 04, 2009

Solar Impulse Plane Flies




The solar airplane, Solar Impulse HB-SIA, made its maiden flight at Dubendorf Airfield on December 3rd. ...
... "As the aircraft gently took up speed, the huge wing of the Solar Impulse gradually rose into the air under intense admiration of the project promoters, Bertrand Piccard and André Borschberg. After some 350 metres of flight at an altitude of one meter, the prototype graciously landed on the centre of the runway, triggering a frenzied applause from the team. " ...
Via SOLAR IMPULSE: SOLAR AIRPLANE

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October 31, 2009

Southwest Airlines Green Team and Green Plane




Southwest has remade on of their planes, tail # WN222 into a test bed for eco-friendly products. As it is in revenue sservice you may get a chance to check it out! "At Southwest, we are all about innovation ... the paint isn’t green, ... you probably can’t tell much difference on the interior, but our Green Plane is a “test lab” of eco-friendly products that we are evaluating. ... we hope to be able to reduce the weight of the aircraft by up to five pounds per seat, saving fuel and reducing emissions while being good environmental stewards. ... environmental decisions can also make good business sense ... are the first airline to do something like this. " " ... aircraft, WN222 ... to serve as a test for these eco-friendly products and other future initiatives. ... Green Plane will be in regular revenue service so we can evaluate normal wear and durability. If you’re lucky enough to be on the Green Plane, expect a post-flight survey where we ask what you think and how we are doing." See the video ... Via: Southwest Airlines LINK

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September 05, 2009

Boeing Struggles to Bring Green Airplane Design to Market




Boeing is challenged to gain control of its outsourced business processes in order to bring the energy efficient 787 Dreamliner to commercial fruition. Since the Dreamliner makes use of composite materials, its manufacturing processes are expected to produce less waste by-product. ...
... "With half of its structure made of plastics reinforced with carbon fiber, a composite that is both lighter and stronger than aluminum, and more efficient engines, the 787 could cut fuel costs by up to 20 percent, Boeing says. " ...
Via New York Times: The 787 Dreamliner



Boeing's 787 Dreamliner incorporation innovative design features for environmental performance. ...

Boeing 2008 Environment Report (PDF): "the 787 is designed for the environment with an impressive 20 percent improvement in fuel use and an equivalent reduction in carbon dioxide emissions compared to today’s similarly-sized airplanes. The 747-8 offers a 16 percent improvement in fuel use and carbon dioxide emissions over the 747-400. "

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June 21, 2009

Solar Plane Trip Planned




German leaders discuss solar plane project during China sustainability event. ...
... "The plane, covered in almost 12,000 photovoltaic cells, has a wingspan of 63.4 meters, or roughly that of Airbus A340, and only weighs 1,600 kg, equivalent to that of a motor car. " ...
Via China Daily: Solar-powered plane

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June 19, 2009

Aviation Biofuel Performs Well




Boeing collaborates with industry and government to demonstrate the performance of bio-derived aviation jet fuels and to enable the transition for the industry. ...
... "In addition, the study showed the Bio-SPK fuel blends used in the test flight program met or exceeded all technical parameters for commercial jet aviation fuel. Those standards include freezing point, flash point, fuel density and viscosity, among others. The tests revealed that using the Bio-SPK fuel blends had no adverse effects on the engines or their components. They also showed that the fuels have greater energy content by mass than typical petroleum-derived jet fuel - which potentially could lower fuel consumption per mile. Renewable jet fuels from bio-derived sources are being considered because of their ability to reduce carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions. " ...
Via Boeing: Biofuels Perform Effectively as Jet Fuel

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December 30, 2008

Air New Zealand Jatropha Biofuel Test Flight




Air New Zealand conducts test flight with biofuel blend derived from the Jatropha plant. ...
... "The airline has said it plans to eventually power its entire fleet of domestic and international aircraft on 100 per cent biofuel. " ...
Via Stuff.co.nz: Jetropha flight

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August 26, 2008

Algae Jet Fuel




Algae may offer the best approach to aviation biofuel production when compared to alternatives, such as biomass-to-liquid. ...
... "Algal jet fuel also has its fans in civil aviation, including Virgin and Boeing, which is no surprise since it seems to offer the best bet in a gamble where the stakes are literally sky-high: nothing less than the survival of aviation as we know it. " ...
Via David Strahan: Airline industry

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June 10, 2008

Clean Drives Airline Fuel Efficiency




Airlines seek ideas for energy efficiency as fuel cost increase dramatically. Simple ideas contribute to fuel efficiency, such as cleaner engines and planes and carying less weight from water to baggage. ...
... "American and Southwest are washing a handful of jet engines each night, a process that used to happen only during thorough maintenance overhauls. Southwest figures it has already saved $1.6 million in fuel costs since April by reducing the drag caused by dirt and debris. " ...
Via NYTimes: Airlines Save on Fuel Costs

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May 18, 2008

Green Jet Biofuels to be Studied through Team Collaboration




UOP LLC, a Honeywell company, and Honeywell Aerospace will collaborate with Airbus, JetBlue Airways, and International Aero Engines to study sustainable biofuels for use by commercial aircraft. Honeywell's UOP has developed process technology that produces green jet fuel as a direct replacement for traditional kerosene-based aviation fuel and meets all of the performance specifications for flight. ...
... "The effort will focus on developing and testing renewable energy technology to convert biofeedstocks to commercial aviation fuels, with specific focus on "second-generation" feedstocks such as algae which do not compete with food or water resources. " ...
Via Honeywell: Honeywell, Airbus, JetBlue Airways And International Aero Engines To Study Biofuels Use For Commercial Aircraft

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February 24, 2008

Virgin and Partners Test Biofuel Jet




Virgin collaborates with its aircraft partners to test a biofuel mix powering its jet. The experimental test results will be analyzed and be used to support Virgin's journey to reducing its carbon impact. ...
... "Virgin Atlantic spokesman Paul Charles predicted this biofuel would produce much less CO2 than regular jet fuel ... " ...
Via New York Times: Virgin Jet Uses Biofuel

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February 13, 2008

Bio-Diesel Flight Around the World




 green flight international logo
Green Fuel for airplanes! 

Green Flight International has made history buy having "... completed the world's first Jet aircraft flight powered by 100% biofuel ..."Bio diesel jet

They are planning an around the world approx. 22,000 nautical mile flight to further demonstrate their capabilities.  The date has not yet been set but he flight will "... set an example to the International community that it is possible to implement Alternative energy into mainstream transportation sources."

Green Flight International is based in Apopka, Florida.

Via:  Green Flight International Link

 

Continue reading "Bio-Diesel Flight Around the World" »

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February 06, 2008

Bio Diesel Jet Plane




Czech L-29 Bio-Diesel Jet

Bio-Diesel is an alternative fuel used in lqwn movers and cars.  But what about airplanes?

Read on to learn about a bio-diesel jet ...>>>

"Biodiesel ... recently power a 1968 L-29 Czechoslovakian jet—dubbed BioJet 1—up to 17,000 feet (5,180 meters) over 37 minutes. A three minute, 15-second test the day before was the world's first flight entirely fueled by cooking oil."

"... the fuel for the historic October flight: fresh canola oil refined into biodiesel. ...""

"As little as 20 percent biodiesel in petroleum diesel fuel will reduce carbon emissions by 50 percent,... "

"...  plans to fly the experimental jet from Reno, Nev., to Orlando, Fla.—the first transcontinental biodiesel flight, in eight stops. And, eventually, he hopes to fly a similarly fuelled plane around the world. ...""

 

Via:  Scientific American   Link

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February 01, 2008

Cleaning Airplane Engines Improves MPG




Plane Getting a Bath

Your cars fuel injectors or carburetors can get gummed up so it is not hard to imagine the same happening to airplane engines.  Dirt can degrade fuel economy. 

Problem is ... planes only make money when they are is service and there are no "plane washes" at the airport.

Pratt & Whitney has developed a closed loop, on-wing engine cleaning system that can boost economy by up to 1%.  While not a large number it translates to saving big bucks as the price of Jet Fuel keeps rising.  The process is called "EcoWash"

Read on for more >>>

Pratt & Whitney CLosed Loop Eco Wash

" ... "washing" is meant the use of water and, in some cases, detergents, flowed through the engine to clean the turbine blades and the core.  ... carbon buildup is minimized and operating efficiency is maximized. ... applied to the interior components to ensure economical operation  ..."

" ...Pratt & Whitney, ... has developed a means of conducting these engine washes while the engine is "on the wing,"... is superior in terms of cleaning efficiency, environmentally friendly  ...and it can be done in a fraction of the time taken for traditional engine washes."

" ... EcoPower ... can wash engines in as little as one quarter the time (roughly 60-90 minutes), and the water used is between 16-42 gallons (60-160 liters), ..."

 

Via:  Aviation Maintenance Magazine   Link

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January 17, 2008

Airplane Recycling




Boeing 707 in the process of being recycledAirplane recycling is just like any other recycling ... sort of.  Of course planes are bigger than household recyclables but older airplanes have a lot of steel and aluminum - materials that are easy to recycle.AIRCRAFT COMPOSITE MATERIALS - FOR RECYCLING

"Steel, found in the landing gear of planes  [left] ... is ...easy to recover. ... dealers sell steel ... to companies that make anything from new aircraft to food cans to bridges."

"Recycling composite aircraft materials ...[right] is trickier ...The Aircraft Fleet Recycling Association aims to recycle 5 tons of carbon fiber per day."

"... process of separating carbon fiber from plastic and metal composites is still being perfected. ..."

"Recycled carbon fiber is being tested for use inAirplane graveyard - in dessets of California tires, paint, industrial injection molds, and sporting goods ... also looking into using it in airplane baggage bins and galley carts, within car brakes, and even spinning it into yarn."

 

Via:  ZDNet.com  Link

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