By golly
, the B-52 loaded up with a 50-50 blend of traditional jet fuel and a coal-derived alternative in two of its eight engines flew Tuesday with no ill effects. Flying in the bomber with the mission crew during the test was Air Force Undersecretary Ronald Sega, who said the flight “sets the stage” for USAF’s “more comprehensive” conservation plan. The coal-based Fischer-Tropsch fuel is just one of many possible aircraft fuel alternatives under study. Within a few months, the Air Force plans to fly a B-52 operating with Fischer-Tropsch fuel in all eight engines.
The Air Force and Boeing agreed to a nearly $2.4 billion contract for a new lot of KC-46 aerial tankers on Nov. 21. The deal, announced by the Pentagon, is for 15 new aircraft in Lot 11 at a cost of $2.389 billion—some $159 million per tail.