F-22 gets synthetic blend

A KC-135 from the 336 ARS at the base refuels an F-22 from Edwards AFB with a new synthetic fuel which will decrease the Air Force’s dependence on foreign oil. It was the first time the new synthetic fuel was used in an air refueling as well as the first time a KC-135 flew using it. The pilots from both aircraft reported that everything went smoothly. (U.S. Air Force photo by Master Sgt. Rick Sforza, 4th CTCS)

F-22 gets synthetic blend

Col. Jeff Pennington, 452nd Operations Group commander (right), discusses the Aug. 28 refueling mission before takeoff with members from the Alternative Fuels Certification Office, Wright-Patterson AFB: Betty Rodriguez, chief engineer and Jeff Braun, director, Alternative Fuels Certification Office, Wright-Patterson AFB. (U.S. Air Force photo by Master Sgt. Rick Sforza, 4th CTCS)

F-22 gets synthetic blend

Senior Master Sgt. Phil Stidham, boom operator, 336 ARS, and Jeff Braun, director, Alternative Fuels Certification Office, observe from a KC-135R as an F-22 Raptor is refueled over the Southern California desert. The F-22 is based at Edwards AFB. (U.S. Air Force photo by Master Sgt. Rick Sforza, 4th CTCS)

KC-135 refuels F-22 with synthetic blend

Published Sept. 12, 2008
By Senior Master Sgt. Matt Proietti
SECAF, Public Affairs

WASHINGTON -- An Air Force Reserve aircrew from March Air Reserve Base, Calif., made history Aug. 28 by air refueling an F-22 Raptor with a 50/50 synthetic fuel blend, the same blend used to fuel its KC-135R.

Both aircraft used only the blended fuel mix during the 2.5-hour sortie, which included two refuelings.

The aircrews completed individual qualification activities. No problems were found, and all operations were nominal.

The 827th Aircraft Sustainment Group at Tinker Air Force Base, Okla., which oversees all aspects of the KC-135, ordered the testing of the fuel blend. People in the Air Mobility Command Test and Evaluation Squadron evaluated the suitability of JP-8 fuel blended with 50 percent Synthetic Paraffinic Kerosene (SPK) fuel (Fischer-Tropsch) for use in a KC-135R aircraft.

The Air Force officials are working to certify the JP-8/SPK fuel blend in other aircraft, and this assessment will assist in those efforts. The fuel blend has been successfully tested on B-52, B-1, C-17 and F-15 aircraft.

The most recent assessment used a single KC-135R and began with ground testing to demonstrate the JP-8/SPK compatibility with fuel tanks, auxiliary power units and aircraft engines.

After ground testing, a crew performed an isolated engine flight test using the No. 2 engine. That was followed by a flight test using JP-8/SPK blend in all four engines and included aerial refueling of an F-22 Raptor in conjunction with the Air Force Flight Test Center's assessment of the fuel blend in the F-22.

Certification of the fuel blend in KC-135 aircraft will allow for continued unrestricted refueling support to not only Air Force aircraft but also compatible aircraft in from sister services and allied air forces, thus ensuring continued worldwide interoperability.

Air Force officials said successful flight testing of the F-22 validates that the synthetic fuel blend is capable of sustaining even the most demanding performance requirements posed by the most modern and the highest performance fighter aircraft in existence. (Air Force Reserve Command News Service)