# Aviation biofuels **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [May 26, 2011, 7:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/aviation-biofuels/583340 "2011-05-26T19:29:25Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 5\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Johnny\_L.A](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_l.a/32/1084_2.png) [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Post date:** [May 26, 2011, 7:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/aviation-biofuels/583340/1 "2011-05-26T19:29:25Z")
[Article](http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/2015147017_apwaaviationbiofuel1stld.html). Yesterday the local NPR affiliate had a story about biofuels for airlines. The radio report said Boeing said that biofuels are ‘better than petroleum-based fuel’. No cite. In any case, it’s a good start. Right now, most GA aircraft engines require leaded (gasoline) fuel – much to the chagrin of environmentalists. Eventually there will be a formula for avgas that will allow the fleet to fly safely without lead. In recent years Diesel engines have found their way into GA. Not many, but a few. GA Diesel engines are designed to run on Jet-A, which is similar to Diesel fuel/kerosene. A viable source of ‘bio-Jet-A’ might induce airplane makers to build more GA aircraft with Diesel powerplants. In addition, reports I’ve read recently suggest that business aviation is recovering – and business jets and turboprops burn jet fuel. ---
**Author:** ![kanicbird](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/5f8ce5/32.png) [@kanicbird](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kanicbird)\ **Post date:** [May 26, 2011, 7:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/aviation-biofuels/583340/2 "2011-05-26T19:59:42Z")
Ethanol, though it contains less energy per gallon, does produce more power, which more power could be a benefit to plane during takeoff or while heavily loaded. ---
**Author:** ![Broomstick](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/broomstick/32/246_2.png) [@Broomstick](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Broomstick)\ **Post date:** [May 26, 2011, 8:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/aviation-biofuels/583340/3 "2011-05-26T20:15:24Z")
Yes, except that since it gets less energy per unit of mass it would be required to carry more fuel for the same distance, which is more weight, and weight is a serious issue in aviation. Not that it’s impossible - Brazil runs most of its agricultural airplane fleet on ethanol - but for long distance travel the additional mass of fuel will be a serious factor. ---
**Author:** ![TriPolar](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tripolar/32/3008_2.png) [@TriPolar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TriPolar)\ **Post date:** [May 26, 2011, 9:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/aviation-biofuels/583340/4 "2011-05-26T21:20:11Z")
> [@Johnny\_L.A](#): > > [Article](http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/2015147017_apwaaviationbiofuel1stld.html). > > Yesterday the local NPR affiliate had a story about biofuels for airlines. The radio report said Boeing said that biofuels are ‘better than petroleum-based fuel’. No cite. In any case, it’s a good start. > > Right now, most GA aircraft engines require leaded (gasoline) fuel – much to the chagrin of environmentalists. Eventually there will be a formula for avgas that will allow the fleet to fly safely without lead. In recent years Diesel engines have found their way into GA. Not many, but a few. GA Diesel engines are designed to run on Jet-A, which is similar to Diesel fuel/kerosene. A viable source of ‘bio-Jet-A’ might induce airplane makers to build more GA aircraft with Diesel powerplants. In addition, reports I’ve read recently suggest that business aviation is recovering – and business jets and turboprops burn jet fuel. I was under the impression that much more Jet fuel is consumed than Avgas. Am I wrong about that? ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_L.A](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_l.a/32/1084_2.png) [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Post date:** [May 26, 2011, 9:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/aviation-biofuels/583340/5 "2011-05-26T21:52:01Z")
> [@TriPolar](#): > > I was under the impression that much more Jet fuel is consumed than Avgas. Am I wrong about that? No. But there are a lot of big jets burning a lot of jet fuel, in addition to corporate-sized aircraft. Most General Aviation aircraft (e.g., Mooney, Beechcraft, Cessna) burn avgas.