New Delhi: The Indian Air Force (IAF) scripted history on December 17 when its crew flew India’s first military flight using blended bio-jet fuel on the An-32 transport aircraft. The flight took off from IAF base in Chandigarh and landed after an hour.
Incidentally, the flight coincided with the 115th anniversary of the Wright Brothers' first flight at Kitty Hawk in 1903.
The An-32 flight commanded by Experimental Test Pilots and a Test Engineer from IAF’s Aircraft and Systems Testing Establishment (ASTE) based out of Bengaluru.
The project is a combined effort of IAF, DRDO, Directorate General Aeronautical Quality Assurance and CSIR-Indian Institute of Petroleum.
Ahead of the maiden flight, the IAF team carried out extensive engine tests on the ground.
“This was followed by flight trials using 10 per cent bio-jet blended ATF (Aviation Turbine Fuel). This fuel is made from Jatropha oil sourced from Chattisgarh Biodiesel Development Authority and later processed at CSIR-IIP, Dehradun,” an IAF spokesperson said.
IAF Chief, Air Chief Marshal B S Dhanoa, had in July this year announced about the plan to fly a military plane with a mix of bio-jet fuel.
With Monday’s successful flight, the IAF now plans to fly the An-32 with 10 per cent bio-jet fuel during the Republic Day flypast on January 26, 2019.
IAF sources said Monday’s flight lasted for an hour and the data is being analysed now.
“There could be a couple of more flights before the R-Day flypast. This is a huge step and it will be a cost-saving exercise once the project takes complete shape,” an official said.
