Biofuel - Fuel for Airplanes?

On the verge of several new inventions Virginbabassu plant, prepared by Seattle-based Imperium
Atlantic Boeing 747 was tested to fly on Biofuel. ItRenewable over the last 18 months and tested by
was the first commercial jet ever to fly on Biofuel, aGeneral Electric Aviation in Ohio.
fuel produced from plant matter instead of petroleumCommenting against the people who were stating
or other fossil fuels.this incidence as mere publicity stunt, people said that
This plane was tested with five people on board onit was just a businesses claim, meant merely as a
one of London Heathrow's two main runways. Theredemonstration. Branson told reporters, "What we're
were around 100 people watching to evidence thisproving today is that Biofuel can be used for a
event standing on a nearby hangar. Virgin founder,plane," He further added, "Two years ago, people
Richard Branson told reporters just before its takesaid it was absolutely impossible."
off that, "This is the first stage on a journeyIt was also feared that Biofuel would freeze before a
towards renewable fuel," His voice was not clearplane reached cruising altitude, or that it would require
because of deafening noise of overhead planes.massive and costly changes to the aircraft or fueling
For experiment purpose, Virgin's eco-plane ran onlysystems to work at all. Those all believes were
one engine with that fuel and the other three enginesproved wrong with this successful experiment. The
were filled with standard jet fuel. In addition thefuel used by Virgin did not require any equipment
Biofuel-powered engine was using a blend ofmodifications and it flew to 25,000 feet (7,600 m)
conventional jet fuel and Biofuel: 80/20 in favor ofwithout incident; and the environmental benefits
the regular stuff. In sum just 5% of the 49,000-lbseem clear, at least once the fuel is loaded onto the
(22,000 kg) fuel load consisted of the novelty: aplane.
special mix of coconut oil and oil from the Brazilian