The headlines are screaming all over the world right now. The wire services are agape! Richard Branson's Virgin Atlantic airlines has, according to the headlines:
Virgin Atlantic flies jumbo jet powered by biofuel – International Herald Tribune
Biofuel takes flight with Virgin Atlantic - Kansas City Star
Virgin Atlantic flies jumbo jet powered by biofuel from London's Heathrow: Charleston Daily Mail
Britain's Daily Mail is also excited, but they at least got some detail in:
World's first aircraft powered by bio-fuel takes off
The world's first commercial aircraft powered partly by biofuel took to the skies today.
The Virgin Atlantic 747 took off on route from London Heathrow to Amsterdam using a 20 per cent biofuel mix of coconut and babassu oil in one of its four main fuel tanks.
Environmentalists are frothing at the mouth calling this a publicity stunt – which, if Branson is involved, it is. That is exactly what Branson does: self-promotion. What is missing here is an explanation of what, exactly, was done. Did one engine run the very small amount of biofuel or did all four? What impact on performance did the biofuel have? Was the one tank with a (minor) biofuel mix even used?
Witout knowing those things, this is all hype.
I read that only one engine of the four was hooked up to this blend and only briefly. Branson just recently pledged millions for research on global warming alternatives. I bet that money is making a tight loop home.
Bio fuels tend to have more residue than petroleum based fuels. This can clog lines, filters and control valves without proper maintenance. Cost of maintaining the airplane relates to higher fares and more down time for the aircraft.
Basic view, OK.
This is what the airlines will do with the food they used to serve passengers – burn it, and burn it very inefficiently. But they will be able to feel good about themselves as they do it; and it’s is all about feeling good about yourself, and appearing to do “good”, to “save” the planet.
I heard that the drinks on board the flight tasted like…jet fuel
Mockingbird,
Very funny….today’s funny. I can’t stop laughing…
Now I know how they were able to qiuckly hook up the biofuel lines..