A Virgin Atlantic Boeing 747 is going to fly from London Heathrow to Amsterdam on Sunday 24th using a 20% blend of biofuel to power one of four GE CF6-80C2 engines.
The airline has been working with Boeing and engine manufacturer GE Aviation on the initiative since last April.
There had been speculation that Boeing would be using algae or a halophyte-derived alternative .
Speaking to Flight at the Singapore air show last week, Boeing energy and emissions technology leader Dave Daggett said the Virgin flight would definitely not use algae-derived fuel, using instead what he called a first-generation feedstock, ie soy, canola, babassu or palm oil.
Flight's journalists will be at Heathrow on Sunday providing coverage from the event.
Good on Virgin, GE and Boeing!
After all the negative media hype on bio fuels let's hope there's some objective news reporting on this event.
Gen2 jatropha, algae CO2 conversion and Elephant grass bio based fuels DO NOT compete with Food production.
In fact Jatropha and Elephant grass can benefit Sub Saharan agriculture by improving soils for Maize and other food products for local use.
Where soils are too poor for food production these plants can still grow with minimal water requirements unlike palm oil and canola or corn based ethanol.
The issue remains for local people in those regions where these crops are likely to be grown - the gowers must benefit from Bio Jet fuel.