A first: UAV runs on biofuel

    Dec. 8, 2011
    Navy UAV runs on biofuel

    A Northrop Grumman MQ-8B Fire Scout recently completed the first unmanned biofuel flight. The unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) flew from an airfield in Maryland on a combination of JP-5 aviation fuel and fuel made from camelliea, a flowering plant native to Asia. The Navy says Fire Scout is the seventh and final aircraft to demonstrate the versatility of biofuel through its use in all facets of naval aviation.
    U. S. Navy photo by Kelly Schindler

    © 2011 Penton Media, Inc.

    About the Author

    Leland Teschler

    Lee Teschler served as Editor-in-Chief of Machine Design until 2014. He holds a B.S. Engineering from the University of Michigan; a B.S. Electrical Engineering from the University of Michigan; and an MBA from Cleveland State University. Prior to joining Penton, Lee worked as a Communications design engineer for the U.S. Government.

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