Jet Airplane runs on Fast-Food Leftovers

Posted by User ImageA. Caleb Hartley on December 21st, 2007 filed in Air Transport, alternative, aviation, carbon, emissions, energy, entrepreneurship, environment, environmental, fuel, gas, gasoline, green, jet, recycle, technology, test, transportation, vegetable

Green Flight International and Biodiesel Solutions teamed up and flew the first 100% biodiesel fuel powered flight.

Bio Jet I - a czechoslovakian-built L-29 jet that flew on 100% biodiesel fuel in October

The Czechoslovakian-built L-29 jet flew for 37 minutes on a test-flight at altitudes up to 17,000 feet on October 2nd of 2007 (the first 100% biodiesel fueled flight was a shorter one on October 1st).

The plane used recycled vegetable oil from restaurants (which had an additive treatment to remove the carbon-chains from the oil).  Another planned flight from Nevada to Florida was supposed to heppen in November, but has been delayed.

The pilots (Douglas Rodante and Carol Sugars) are planning to modify a learjet to use biodiesel fuel on an around-the-world flight in 2008.

Links to information about the flight:

Namaste,
A. Caleb Hartley

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8 Responses to “Jet Airplane runs on Fast-Food Leftovers”

  1. no imageNishan Stepak (Who am I?) Says:
    December 21st, 2007 at 8:26 pm

    This is fantastic. I had heard of Brazilians using ethanols to power propeller planes and people in the United States cutting jet fuel with soy biodiesel, but this is a first. A real accomplishment.

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  2. no imageAllyn Paul (Who am I?) Says:
    December 21st, 2007 at 9:05 pm

    I wonder if the cockpit smelled like french fries? LOL
    I wish this technology was being utilized more in cars. I think it has as much potential as ethanol.
    AL

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  3. no imageDebo Hobo (Who am I?) Says:
    December 21st, 2007 at 9:13 pm

    wow and people actually at the fries that once came out of that oil. OMG! we really will eat anything.

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  4. no imageSergey (Who am I?) Says:
    December 23rd, 2007 at 11:29 pm

    i like your header! )

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  5. no imageA. Caleb Hartley (Who am I?) Says:
    January 14th, 2008 at 9:25 am

    Thanks for the comments Nishan, Al, Debo, and Sergey!

    Nishan - I think so, too. I’m hopeful that before long we’ll have a solution to the problem of bio-diesel “gelling” at low temperature (I’ve seen nearly -100F at altitude).

    Al - Probably not in the cockpit, but the passengers in steerage (that’s all of you sitting near me in the little cramped seats in coach) smelled the french fries, I’m sure! :)
    I agree that bio-diesel has as much potential as ethanol, if not more. It’s taking what i essentially waste that would be thrown out, and turning it into something useful. Doesn’t get much greener than that!

    Debo - I have to say, french fries are my one weakness (if you forget about Doritos, Chex Mix, and pretty much anything else crunchy with salt). So if all I need to do to save the Earth is eat more french fries so we’ll have more used oil - count me in! :)

    Sergey - Thanks! This is actually a free wordpress design I tripped over while couch surfing on the ‘net. Check out http://www.freecsstemplates.org if you’re looking!

    Namaste,
    A. Caleb

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  6. no imagePrivacy is best (Who am I?) Says:
    January 15th, 2008 at 3:41 am

    They stole my idea!! I always dreamed of this. But, in fact, I would imagine that the power output would be only 40% of that of conventional fuel.

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  7. no imageA. Caleb Hartley (Who am I?) Says:
    January 15th, 2008 at 1:26 pm

    Privacy:

    Nothing I read mentioned the energy volume of the bio-fuel vs. conventional. I think, though, even bio-diesel for automobiles is more like in the 70-80% range. It is slightly less than standard diesel.

    Please don’t quote me on the numbers… I’m no scientist!

    Namaste,
    Caleb

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  8. Environmentastic! » First commercial airliner to use bio-Jet Fuel Says:
    January 16th, 2008 at 4:01 pm

    [...] of Virgin Atlantic, is apparently an environmentastic! reader.  Not long after posting about the very first bio-jet fuel powered flight in any aircraft, Branson’s Virgin Atlantic has announced that the company will complete a [...]

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