Scientists from NASA’s Langley Research Center traveled cross-country this month for an experiment with eco-friendly jet fuel. The Langley team drove 2,600 miles from Hampton, Virginia, to meet up with other researchers at NASA’s Dryden Flight Research Center in California. Researchers are testing the biofuel on a NASA DC-8 as part of the Alternative Aviation Fuel Experiment II, or AAFEX II. The fuel is called Hydrotreated Renewable Jet Fuel. “It’s made out of chicken fat, actually,” said Langley’s Bruce Anderson. Anderson and his team will test a 50-50 mix of biofuel and regular jet fuel, biofuel only, and jet fuel only. Two of the team members headed west in a specially equipped 32-foot van on loan from Langley’s Aviation Safety Program. It’s dubbed “EM-50” by researchers after the urban assault vehicle used in the 1981 comedy “Stripes” with Bill Murray.

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