THERMAL, Calif., and WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. - Richard "Smokey" Young will use an unleaded, high-octane biofuel developed by a Purdue Research Park-based company during his attempt to establish a new 100-kilometer closed course speed record on Sept. 11.
Young will power his No. 3 Western Air Racing Special with SwiftFuel, developed and produced by Swift Enterprises Ltd. The Western Air Racing Special is an International Formula 1 Aircraft powered by a Continental O-200 engine. Young is a 13-year veteran of the U.S. Air Force, president of International Formula 1 Air Racing and runs the Aviation Pilot Training Program at Orange Coast College in Costa Mesa, Calif.
During the record attempt, Young will take off from Thermal Airport, fly southeast 50 kilometers to the Salton Sea and return to the airport to land. He will fly at an altitude of 300 meters or lower and expects to reach a speed of 260 mph, which would break the record of 238 mph set in 2004.
Young explained why he is using SwiftFuel for his record attempt.
"As I researched SwiftFuel, I became more convinced that 'green' fuel is the direction general aviation needs to move," he said. "I am determined to show everyone that renewable fuel is just as good from a performance standpoint as general aviation fuel.
"I chose SwiftFuel because it is the only credible non-petrochemical derived fuel I have seen. It is for the good of aviation."
According to a technical report about Federal Aviation Administration testing, SwiftFuel demonstrated 13 percent more energy per gallon than 100 low-lead (100LL) and demonstrated normal engine wear and lower fuel system deposits as compared to 100LL.
About Swift Enterprises
Established in 2001, Swift Enterprises (http://www.swiftenterprises.com) works with novel chemicals as new components in energy conversion devices. Swift brings a combination of military, academic and private enterprise experience to the practical research and development of propulsion, ordnance and power technologies. In the mid-1980s, the company's founders worked at Edwards Air Force Base in California, where they conducted research on rockets and rocket fuel for the government. Swift Enterprises has completed research for Lockheed-Martin Astronautics, DARPA, the U.S. Air Force and the U.S. Navy.
About Purdue Research Park
The 725-acre Purdue Research Park (http://www.purdueresearchpark.com) has the largest university-affiliated business incubation complex in the country. The park is home to more than 160 companies. About 100 of these firms are technology-related and another 39 are incubator businesses. In addition to the Purdue Research Park in West Lafayette, the foundation has established research parks in other Indiana locations including Indianapolis, Merrillville and New Albany.
Source: Purdue Research Park
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