To Paris, on biofuel
Published 10:40 am Thursday, June 16, 2011
The Boeing Co.’s new 747-8 Freighter will fly to the Paris Air Show on a biologically derived fuel, the first commercial jet to make a transatlantic crossing using a blend of the renewable fuel, officials said.
Boeing pilots Capt. Keith Otsuka and Capt. Rick Braun and Cargolux Capt. Sten Rossby will fly the airplane with each of the 747-8 Freighter’s four GE GEnx-2B engines powered by a blend of 15 percent camelina-based biofuel mixed with 85 percent traditional kerosene fuel (Jet-A).
Camelina is a plant grown in rotation with dry wheat. Boeing used camelina from Montana.
“This historic flight is a boost to aviation’s efforts to reduce carbon emissions and improve efficiency in all phases of our industry,” 747-8 Vice President and General Manager Elizabeth Lund said in a prepared statement. “And the 747-8 Freighter fits in well with these efforts by bringing huge improvements in fuel efficiency, lower carbon emissions and less noise.”
The airplane will be on static display at the Paris Air Show June 21 and 22.
