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Author Topic: B-52 Flies Using Synthetic Fuel Only  (Read 502 times)

Offline Gunslinger

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B-52 Flies Using Synthetic Fuel Only
« on: December 21, 2006, 09:53:27 PM »
Pretty cool stuff considering these buffs burn alot of gas and fly for days....literally

although I didn't understand the last line about "cold weather"  Isn't it pretty cold at 30K ft?





Quote

B-52 Flies Using Synthetic Fuel Only
Air Force Print News | December 18, 2006
Edwards AFB, CA. - A B-52 Stratofortress took off Dec. 15 on a flight-test mission using a blend of synthetic fuel and JP-8 in all eight engines. This is the first time a B-52 has flown using a synfuel blend as the only fuel on board. In September, the Air Force successfully flew a B-52 with two-engines using the synfuel-blend while the others used standard fuel.

"The B-52 test flights at Edwards Air Force Base are the initial steps in the Air Force process to test and certify a synthetic blend of fuel for its aviation fleet," said Secretary of the Air Force Michael W. Wynne. "We are confident that the success of this flight will bring us one step closer to allowing a domestic source of synthetic fuel to accomplish the Air Force mission in the future."

The first B-52 flight using Fischer-Tropsch fuel occurred Sept. 19 at Edwards.

Today's flight further demonstrates the Air Force's commitment to using alternate fuels and is the next step in the testing and certification process before the fuel can go into widespread use, officials said.

According to William Anderson, assistant secretary of the Air Force for installations, environment and logistics, the Air Force has reinvigorated its energy strategy which is underpinned by supply-side availability and semand-side conservation.

"The Air Force is moving forward in its commitment to certify alternative sources of fuel for both its aircraft and ground vehicles fleet," said Mr. Anderson.

Maj. Gen. Curtis Bedke, Air Force Flight Test commander, is flying the aircraft to assess how well the aircraft performs using the synthetic blend of fuel.

The next test phase for the B-52 will be cold-weather testing to determine how well the synfuel-blend performs in extreme weather conditions.
Sound Off...What do you think? Join the discussion.
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Offline Fishu

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B-52 Flies Using Synthetic Fuel Only
« Reply #1 on: December 21, 2006, 10:09:32 PM »
Fischer-Tropsch   = 70 years old invention by germans.
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Offline rpm

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B-52 Flies Using Synthetic Fuel Only
« Reply #2 on: December 21, 2006, 11:18:05 PM »
While it's cold at 30K over Mojave, it's a lot colder at 30K over the Arctic Circle. Using a synthetic fuel in a jet or gas turbine is a no brainer. You could even use a biodiesel mix. Turbines will burn almost anything. Cost will be the limiting factor.
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Offline eagl

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B-52 Flies Using Synthetic Fuel Only
« Reply #3 on: December 22, 2006, 01:59:04 AM »
cold wx ops also includes such things like if the engine will start when the fuel is cold, etc.  The inflight high altitude cold environment is totally different from the sea-level engines not running cold environment.
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Offline Viking

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Re: B-52 Flies Using Synthetic Fuel Only
« Reply #4 on: December 22, 2006, 02:06:15 AM »
Quote
Originally posted by Gunslinger
B-52 Flies Using Synthetic Fuel Only



Synthetic fuel only? The very first sentence in the article you quoted says it was using a blend of synthetic fuel and JP-8?
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Offline MrRiplEy[H]

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B-52 Flies Using Synthetic Fuel Only
« Reply #5 on: December 22, 2006, 02:14:40 AM »
The biodiesels have a much higher coagulating point compared to the vintage biodiesel (oil). So like wines, oil gets smoother with age. :D
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Offline indy007

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Re: Re: B-52 Flies Using Synthetic Fuel Only
« Reply #6 on: December 22, 2006, 08:00:57 AM »
Quote
Originally posted by Viking
Synthetic fuel only? The very first sentence in the article you quoted says it was using a blend of synthetic fuel and JP-8?


I think they meant 2 engines were running on synthetic fuel, and the other 6 on JP-8, not that the fuel was blended together.
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Offline jhookt

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B-52 Flies Using Synthetic Fuel Only
« Reply #7 on: December 22, 2006, 09:08:24 AM »
if temp was a primary factor for the use of synthetic fuel, i wonder if they did anything for the tires? i have always thought it a truly curious and clever idea to fill the sr-71's with nitrogen to prevent the tires from freezing at high alt. do u think they had the same problems with the b-52's? are there other planes that used the 71's tire idea? surely the u-2's do right?
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Offline eskimo2

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B-52 Flies Using Synthetic Fuel Only
« Reply #8 on: December 22, 2006, 11:58:09 AM »
Since when did hippies become military aeronautical engineers?
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Offline Viking

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Re: Re: Re: B-52 Flies Using Synthetic Fuel Only
« Reply #9 on: December 22, 2006, 01:23:05 PM »
Quote
Originally posted by indy007
I think they meant 2 engines were running on synthetic fuel, and the other 6 on JP-8, not that the fuel was blended together.


That's not how I read it.


Quote
Edwards AFB, CA. - A B-52 Stratofortress took off Dec. 15 on a flight-test mission using a blend of synthetic fuel and JP-8 in all eight engines. This is the first time a B-52 has flown using a synfuel blend as the only fuel on board. In September, the Air Force successfully flew a B-52 with two-engines using the synfuel-blend while the others used standard fuel.



?
« Last Edit: December 22, 2006, 01:25:48 PM by Viking »
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Offline Old Sport

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B-52 Flies Using Synthetic Fuel Only
« Reply #10 on: December 23, 2006, 10:06:58 AM »
For all you B-52 buffs (pun intended)

Dr. Strangelove is viewable at Google Video.

Make sure to watch for the Flying Fortress shadows when Slim's Strato Fort is NOE.
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Offline bj229r

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B-52 Flies Using Synthetic Fuel Only
« Reply #11 on: December 23, 2006, 11:29:44 AM »
They did an experiment af few months ago with 2 of the 8 engines running on the synth blend (prolly took off with 6, better to KNOW what ya can depend on when just above stall speed) fired them up at alt, and the tests went well--this time all 8 were on the blend at startup
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Offline FastFwd

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B-52 Flies Using Synthetic Fuel Only
« Reply #12 on: December 23, 2006, 08:34:29 PM »
somehow a green B52 seems like a paradox!
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Offline Viking

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B-52 Flies Using Synthetic Fuel Only
« Reply #13 on: December 24, 2006, 01:50:59 PM »
Synthetic fuel isn't "green". I bet its production pollutes quite a lot compared to fossil fuels.
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