A single Pratt & Whitney engine powered by fuel refined partly from crops and algae aided in the first ever inflight test to demonstrate biofuel’s commercial and performance potential.
The 90-minute test used a Japan Airlines Boeing 747-300, carrying only a cockpit crew and no payload, that took off from Tokyo’s Haneda Airport at 9:50 p.m. EST Thursday.
A 50-50 blend of biofuel derived from camelina, a type of flax, and algae and traditional jet kerosene fuel was tested in the No.3 engine (middle right), one of the aircraft’s four Pratt & Whitney JT9D engines. No modifications to the aircraft or engine were required for biofuel, which is a ‘drop-in’ replacement for petroleum-based fuel.
Japan Airlines’ said its cockpit crew reported the flight went smoothly with no noticeable difference in performance.
JAL said data recorded on the aircraft will now be analyzed to determine if equivalent engine performance was seen from the biofuel blend compared to typical Jet A fuel. The initial analysis of the data will take several weeks and will be conducted by team members from Pratt, Boeing and JAL.
“Ground-based jet engine performance testing last year by Pratt & Whitney of similar fuels further established that the biofuel blend either meets or exceeds the performance criteria that is in place for commercial aviation jet fuel today,” said Greg Gernhardt, Pratt’s Asia Pacific region vice president in a statement.
Boeing officials said it is hoped that within three to five years biofuels will power most airline flights.
