Navy Goes Green

The United States Navy is testing bio-fuels to power its aircraft. Just last week, an F/A-18 Super Hornet in Paxtuxent River, Md., flew powered by a 50-50 mixture of aviation fuel and camelina sativa, which is commonly known as wild flax seed. The jet performed just as well on the alternative fuel as on traditional fuel during a 45-minute flight.

The Navy has already received 40,000 gallons of the bio-fuel from a grower in Montana. It will be a few months before the camelina sativa can be certified as an alternative fuel source.