AFMC Command News

F-15 tests alternative jet engine fuel

  • Published
  • By Amanda Creel
  • 78th Air Base Wing Public Affairs
ROBINS AIR FORCE BASE, Ga. --  An aviation first was accomplished when an F-15E Strike Eagle flew here Aug. 19 using an alternative fuel.

Engineers from the 830th Aircraft Sustainment Group, maintainers with the 561st Aircraft Maintenance Squadron and pilots from the 339th Flight Test Squadron joined with the Air Force Alternative Fuels Certification office for the first airborne test of the F-15 using a 50-50 mix of JP-8 jet fuel and a natural gas-based synthetic fuel.

According to Maj. Dan Badia, one of the pilots for the test flight, it was just another day at the office.

"You could have had JP-8 in there and I wouldn't have known the difference," the major said.

Ryan Mead, an F-15 fuels engineer, said he was pleased with the flight test because for all practical purposes the aircraft functioned in the same range it would have with the JP-8 jet fuel. Mr. Mead said he expects the jet to be certified on the fuel as a result of the test flights.

Jeff Braun, director of the Air Force Alternative Fuels Certification office, said the accomplishment demonstrates that the fuel is safe for operational use and does not decrease performance of a high-performance aircraft.

The test was done as part of a direction from the Secretary of the Air Force to certify the entire Air Force fleet on synthetic fuel by 2011. 

The Air Force's B-52 Stratofortress already is certified to use the synthetic fuel. The service's B-1B Lancer and C-17 Globemaster III are still undergoing the final certification process.

The F-22 Raptor and the KC-135 Stratotanker are scheduled to undergo flight tests operating on the synthetic fuel in late August. Once the initial flight tests have occurred, the two aircraft will participate in an all synthetic flight where both aircraft will be operating using the fuel and the KC-135 will refuel the F-22 using the synthetic fuel.