Seeing Green

The Navy's energy strategy, which came out this month and was obtained by Inside the Pentagon, takes a closer look at improving fuel efficiency for aircraft.

At the Navy Energy Forum earlier this month, Vice Adm. William Burke, head of N4, talked about expanding initiatives to encourage operators to be more energy-conscious to the service's air platforms, and Rear Adm. Randy Mahr of Naval Air Systems Command talked about future efforts to test biofuels on planes and helicopters.

According to the Navy Energy Vision, the service might also start trying out smaller efforts similar to ones initiated on ships to seek incremental savings.

"Naval Aviation is evaluating proven technology solutions to improve the energy efficiency of currently fielded systems," the document states. "Improved compressor and turbine designs, performance-seeking controls, and advanced materials are under development to reduce the specific fuel consumption of legacy propulsion systems up to 8 percent. Ongoing mission planning database updates and onboard flight performance modules offer an additional 1 to 3 percent reduction in sortie fuel consumption. Drag-resistant aircraft coatings are being evaluated for military applications after demonstrating up to 6 percent fuel savings in commercial aviation."

The report speculates that small and heavy fuel technology could garner 20 percent energy savings for unmanned aerial vehicles, while variable-cycle engines could save airplanes up to 25 percent of their fuel. It also touts simulated training as a way to save millions of gallons of fuel. And according to the document, the Navy's F/A-18s are already saving $250,000 annually by adjusting their flight altitude so that they cruise at heights normally reserved for commercial airliners.

Much of the rest of the report has long been part of the service's well-publicized push toward biofuels and energy savings.