Virgin wants to use biokerosene in its aircraft, Sir Richard Branson, the company's chairman is due to reveal in Chicago today, according to the Daily Telegraph.
The Telegraph says:
The test will see on of the plane's four engines being filled with a mixture of 60 per cent conventional aviation fuel and 40 per cent from alternative sources.
Work on developing the engine will take place on the ground over the next few months ahead of the first test flight, on which no passengers will be carried.
Should the trial be successful, Virgin will run further tests in which all four engines will be filled with a 50-50 mix of conventional and biofuel.
Given the amount of aviation gasoline/kerosene call it what you like that Virgin gets through this is going to be a pretty high volume, if it takes off. It also preempt's to some extent any changes to the taxation regime on aviation fuel, which may be along in the future. Currently, in Europe, aviation fuel is exempt from value added tax, and flights are heavily subsidised, despite their environmental impact.
In a different area:
"It's significant that Boeing and GE have said that they are interested in doing this," said Steve Ridgway, Virgin's chief executive. "Everyone has said that it will be a long time before we do this, but it doesn't mean we are not going to try.
Being a Derby boy, I'm a little disappointed that Virgin is going for GE engines and not Rolls Royce's excellent power plants