Air Force Research Lab officials think there may be jet fuel in a lump of coal—the problem, of course, is to get it out. AFRL hosted a meeting recently with federal, state, and industry experts to discuss how the military could turn coal into a liquid, diesel-type fuel, reports the Dayton Daily News. The ultimate goal for the Air Force would be jet fuel, and the Army is also interested in gaining a new fuel source for tanks. According to the Ohio Coal Association, what was once an expensive process now may be competitive with the price of oil.
Air Force depots are not typically meant for quick repair jobs, but during Operation Epic Fury, the service moved some of its stateside heavy maintenance capability forward to fix battle-damaged aircraft closer to the fight.
