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A plane partly powered by biofuel derived from algae has completed its first test flight by a U.S. airline.The Continental Boeing 737-800 flew 90 minutes, and was said to have gone better than expected, according to a spokesperson for Continental Airlines.One of the airplane's engines was powered by a 50-50 blend of biofuel, derived from algae and jatropha, and normal aircraft fuel.The test, performed on Wednesday, is the latest in a series of demonstration flights by the aviation industry,...
A New Zealand airliner successfully fueled a plane using oil from the seeds of a poisonous shrub, at a time when airlines hit by high oil prices and pressure over the impact of planes on the environment seek greener fuels.The airline said in a statement that an Air New Zealand Boeing 747 flew for two hours on December 30 with one of its four engines powered by a 50-50 mixture of jet fuel and jatropha oil.The oil came from the jatropha plant, which grows up to three meters and produces...
By CHRIS KAHN Getting the right mix to keep the engines running properly is tricky. PHOENIX -- With the price of oil still above $100 a barrel, everything from wood chips to chicken fat is being scrutinized as an alternative to traditional fuel. But when it comes to airplanes, finding the right mix poses a special challenge. "When you're in an airplane, you don't want your fuel to start solidifying," said Robert Dunn, a Department of Agriculture chemical engineer who is studying biodiesel...
Britain's Virgin Atlantic Airlines announced it had flown one of its Boeing 747 jumbo jets from London to Amsterdam using a renewable biofuel composed of Brazilian babassu and coconut oils. The flight represents the first time a commercial airline has completed a biofuel-powered flight. Â The company said no modifications were made to either the aircraft or its engines to enable the passenger-less flight to take place.Biofuels are fuels made from living things, such as corn. The Virgin...
