Virgin Atlantic to fly a 747 using biofuel

[jpak]

http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/business/347357_virginbiofuel15.html

Virgin Atlantic Airways Ltd., the British carrier controlled by billionaire Richard Branson, will fly a plane powered by biofuel, the first in commercial aviation, 10 months earlier than planned.

The airline will operate one of its Boeing 747s from London Heathrow to Amsterdam, Netherlands, next month using the alternative fuel, Virgin said Monday. The test flight, without passengers, is part of a joint project involving the carrier, The Boeing Co. and engine producer General Electric Co.

The announcement comes as oil, which accounts for 30 percent to 50 percent of airlines' operating costs, sells for more than $90 a barrel and as aviation is increasingly blamed for contributing to global warming. Biofuel contains plant material and burns cleaner than traditional jet fuel.

"Flying our 747 on biofuel 10 months earlier than planned is a major breakthrough," Branson said. "The flight will give our engineers and those at Boeing and GE vital learnings for the passenger flights of the future."

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[bananas]

1. Faster than expected! "10 months earlier than planned"

[cloudbase]

2. Obviously not a FEMA managed project. n/t

[enlightenment]

3. Neat - exciting!

You go first . . . :)

[patch1234]

4. meaningless greenwash .n/t