In an Australian first an R.A.N helicopter has flown on bio-fuel, and by the end of the decade it could become normal practice.

Fleet Commander, and former Nowra based Sea King observer, Rear Admiral Tim Barrett has flown to the U.S.aircraft carrier Nimitz off the  coast of Hawaii, on board a Sea Hawk helicopter from 816 squadron.

Rear Admiral Barrett has signed a " green fuel " agreement with the U.S. Navy and then re-boarded the R.A.N  helicopter, which has been topped up with bio fuel,  and flown back to the Australian fleet.

Ironically Rear Admiral Barrett's home region of Shoalhaven is the nation's biggest producer of the bio fuel additive ethanol, which is manufactured at the Manildra distillery at Bomaderry

The Australian and US navies have agreed to continue research in the hope of having ships and aircraft running on a 50-50 blended biofuel by 2020.