Biofuel trial flight set for 747 - BBC

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Source: BBC News

Last Updated: Friday, 28 September 2007, 12:05 GMT 13:05 UK

Biofuel trial flight set for 747

By Richard Black
Environment correspondent, BBC News website

Air New Zealand says it plans to mount the first
test flight of a commercial airliner partially
powered by biofuel.

The 747 flight is one part of a deal signed by the
airline, engine producer Rolls-Royce and aircraft
manufacturer Boeing to research "greener" flying.

One of the four engines will run on a mixture of
kerosene and a biofuel, and is set for late 2008
or early 2009.

But Virgin Atlantic is planning to beat Air New
Zealand to the punch by having its own biofuel
flight early next year.

-snip-

"It's become flavour of the month for airlines to
talk about biofuels, and flavour of the month for
environmentalists to say they're not the answer,"
observed Tim Johnson, director of the Aviation
Envionment Federation, a UK-based research and
campaign group.

-snip-

Read more: http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/science/nature/7017694.stm