'Jetropha' flight takes to skies

A jet takes to Auckland's skies this morning for the world's first commercial test flight powered by a second-generation biofuel.

A 50:50 blend of the oily nut from the jatropha tree and Jet A1 fuel will power the two-hour exercise that will be monitored by representatives from Boeing, Rolls-Royce and biofuel specialist Honeywell's UOP.

The flight crew will conduct fuel tests measuring the performance of the engine and fuel systems at various altitudes and under a variety of operating conditions.

Air New Zealand said it expected biofuel to make up about 10 per cent of its total fuel burn of 9 million barrels a year by 2013, thereby reducing its carbon footprint by 400,000 tonnes a year. It was the first airline in the world to set such a target.

Pretty frikkin' cool! Read the rest of the article here: http://www.stuff.co.nz/4805570a13.html