WASHINGTON, Sept. 12 (UPI) -- In an effort to reduce dependence on foreign oil, the U.S. Air Force next week will fly a B-52 powered by a mix of synthetic and JP-8 fuel.
The flight, scheduled for Sept. 19, is part of an effort to have 50 percent of the fuel used by the Air Force come from alternative fuels -- most likely coal-based sources -- by 2016.
The Defense Department uses 97 percent of all fuel purchased by the U.S. government. The Pentagon's goal is to derive 7.5 percent of its fuel from alternative sources by 2013. The U.S. Air Force was already at 11 percent in 2005, according to Pentagon documents.
The Air Force is the Defense Department's largest user of fuel, consuming 58 percent of all aviation fuels, according to the Air Force. The Air Force secretary has stated an interest in acquiring 100 million gallons of synthetic fuel by 2008.
The Air Force uses more than 3.2 billion gallons of jet fuel annually at a cost off $10 million a day. It is on track to spend about $5 billion a year. Its fuel costs have doubled since the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks; and every $10 increase in the price of a barrel of oil costs the Air Force an additional $600 million.
The test at Edwards Air Force Base, Calif., is also meant to encourage the development of a commercial market for synthetic aviation fuels, according to an Air Force press release.
To conserve fuel, the Air Force is increasing its use of flight simulators, moving 10 percent of combat and mobility live training flights to simulators.
An Air Force team concluded in August that aircraft powered by a mix of coal-derived synthetic fuel and JP-8 differ in no significant way in emissions or in engine performance than those using only JP-8.
