Boeing Apache helicopter becomes 1st rotorcraft to fly on sustainable bio-kerosene

Boeing and The Royal Netherlands Air Force reported that a Boeing AH-64D Apache became the first rotorcraft to fly using a blend of sustainable bio-kerosene and standard aviation jet fuel. The 20-minute flight was conducted at Gilze-Rijen Airbase, home of the RNLAF’s combat rotorcraft squadrons. The sustainable biofuel used in the flight was produced using algae-based biomass and used cooking oil, and processed by UOP, LLC, a Honeywell company, into a Bio-Synthetic Paraffinic Kerosene (Bio-SPK), which has been used in previous commercial biofuel flights. In a series of preflight tests, the 50/50 bio-kerosene and traditional jet fuel blend met or exceeded the JP-8 fuel specifications for the Apache. No engine or airframe modifications were made prior to flight.