SYNTHETIC FUEL RUNS BUS, B-52 TESTS CONDUCTED AT EDWARDS.

Byline: JIM SKEEN Staff Writer

EDWARDS AIR FORCE BASE -- Known for setting aviation firsts, Edwards Air Force Base quietly conducted another innovative test -- the running of a base transit bus on a synthetic diesel fuel.

On the same day as a flight test of a B-52 bomber running two engines on synthetic fuel, a transit bus used the so-called Fischer-Tropsch synthetic diesel to carry guests to see the B-52 flight.

``This demonstration has shown that ultra-clean fuel has great potential as an energy source for both military ground vehicles and aircraft,'' said Kevin Mulrenin, vice president of Integrated Concepts & Research Corp.'s Advanced Vehicle Technologies division. ``It is clear that with each step we are making critical progress in establishing domestic FT fuel products as a viable alternative to conventional fuel.''

Under a $2.6 million contract awarded by the Federal Transit Administration, the company is evaluating synthetic fuels produced by Syntroleum, the Oklahoma company that also produced the fuel for the B-52 tests.

The Fischer-Tropsch fuel is named for the two German researchers who developed the process before World War II. Petroleum-short Germany used the process to help keep its Nazi war machine running, but for decades it was deemed too expensive to compete with conventional fuels -- until the recent run-up in oil prices.

As a follow-up to the Sept. 19 transit bus demonstration, ICRC and the Air Force Advanced Power Technology Office are planning a longer-term demonstration of 10,000 gallons of so-called FT diesel fuel in a transit bus at Edwards.

The project also fits in with a Pentagon effort, started in 2001, called the Assured Fuel Initiative. The idea is to ensure an energy supply regardless of uncertainty in oil-producing countries or problems spurred by natural disasters, such as Hurricane Katrina's damage last year to Gulf Coast oil refineries.

``Development of this technology will advance the Air Force's goals to provide increased capabilities to the war fighter, support our environmental and energy policy requirements and reduce the dependency on foreign energy sources,'' said Mike Mead, chief of the Air Force Advanced Power Technology Office.

In the flight test of the B-52, a 50-50 blend of synthetic fuel and regular jet fuel was used by two of the bomber's eight engines. The plane's six other engines used the regular fuel.

At least two more test flights with the fuel are planned.

Engineers expect the fuel will have the same performance as regular jet fuel but with less pollution because it contains less sulfur than regular fuels.

Although the Air Force conducted the flight test with a fuel derived from natural gas, Syntroleum officials say they think the fuel can also be produced from coal -- of which the United States has tremendous amounts.

In addition to military applications, successful testing of the fuel could lead to opportunities with commercial airlines, program officials said.

james.skeen(at)dailynews

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