Biofuel-powered jet may come to AirVenture 2008

By Aldrich M. Tan • July 26, 2008

An airplane that could revolutionize the aviation industry at the time of an energy crisis is tentatively coming to Oshkosh.

Doug Rodante, founder of Green Flight International, based in Apopka, Fla., plans to bring the L-29, the first jet to run solely on biodiesel, to AirVenture 2008.

At the time of the interview in June, Rodante was working on getting Federal Aviation Approval to bring the plane to Oshkosh.

If he is successful, Rodante would be bringing the first plane to fly from Florida to Wisconsin completely on biofuel.

Rodante founded Green Flight in 2005 based on his concerns over carbon dioxide emissions and ground base transportation.

"There is an increase in demand and a decrease in supply," he said. "You also have the issue of carbon output. There is a move towards deceasing carbon output of planes. In the future, it will be advantageous for flying with biofuel."

The L-29 was built in 1968 as a trainer for Russian pilots, Rodante said. The aluminum plane weighs 7,200 pounds, has an approximate 36-foot wingspan, and seats two people.

A key problem with biodiesel is that the fuel gels at colder temperatures and higher altitudes, Rodante said. However, the L-29's engine is designed to keep the biodiesel fuel circulating around the filter so that the fuel stays warm.

The plane uses first generation biofuel made out of soy or corn, Rodante said. However, he is working on how to use second-generation biofuels made from algae that do not compete with food crops.

Rodante purchased the plane in Bulgaria in 2007.

Then, he put test equipment on the plane and designed an extensive test program.

The tests concluded that the plane had no change in flight ability with either 100 percent jet fuel or 100 percent biofuel, Rodante said.

Green Flight International had its first jet aircraft flight solely on biofuel in October near Reno, Nev., Rodante said.

It's exciting, but there is still a long way to go for biofuel-powered planes, he said.

"There is still a lot of resistance to biofuels in aviation," he said. "It's going to take a long time, but it will decrease our carbon dioxide output and that's where we need to be.