Did you know the Air Force uses 2.4 billion gallons of gas per year?

[unhappycamper]

Officials Take Step Toward Cleaner Fuel
March 26, 2010
Air Force Print News|by Samuel King Jr.

EGLIN AIR FORCE BASE, Fla. - Air Force officials, embracing the national priorities of cleaner fuel and energy independence, took a step toward a greener, energy independent future when an A-10C Thunderbolt II here took to the air fueled with a blend of Hydrotreated Renewable Jet, or HRJ, and JP-8.

This first-ever feasibility flight demonstration was using HRJ, a hydrocarbon synthetic jet fuel, created from animal fats and plant oils. The flight was conducted by members of the 40th Flight Test Squadron, a developmental test squadron that is part of the Air Armament Center here.

"The Air Force is committed to reducing our reliance on foreign oil," said Terry Yonkers, assistant secretary of the Air Force for installations, environment and logistics. "Our goal is to reduce demand, increase supply and change the culture and mindset of our fuel consumption."

Although mission data has yet to be analyzed, just by leaving the ground the demonstration was considered a success. It proved an Air Force aircraft can be flown using a synthetic fuel blend.

~snip~

The Air Force is the largest user of jet fuel in DOD, consuming 2.4 billion gallons per year. The goal is to switch half of the continental U.S. jet fuel requirement to alternative fuels by 2016. A short-term goal is to have all Air Force aircraft certified to fly using alternative fuels by 2012, according to Mr. Yonkers.


Rest of article at: http://www.military.com/news/article/air-force-news/officials-take-step-toward-cleaner-fuel.html

[Swede]

1. JP-8 is a kerosene based product.

Less refined than gasoline. But that is an incredible amount of fuel.

wiki link
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/JP-8

[MajorChode]

2. I knew they used a lot

A F-15E holds over 3,000 gals of fuel and can use that entire amount in about 11 minutes on afterburner. A B-52 will burn about 4,500 gals per hour.

[uponit7771]

3. Our military industrial complex is sucking this country dry

[Owl]

4. Agreed. When will this madness end?