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How the Air Force got smarter about its aviation fuel use in 2018
December 31, 2018 — Did you know the Air Force is the largest consumer of fuel in the Department of Defense? This may not surprise you, if say, you’ve ever watched a sortie of F-35s complete an aerial refueling, or witnessed a C-5 lift (seemingly) effortlessly into the sky. In fact, the Air Force consumes approximately 2 billion gallons of aviation fuel annually – which is about 81 percent of the total Air Force energy budget (with about 17 percent used for facilities and 2 percent for ground vehicles). Operational energy, or aviation fuel, is critical to mission success – but getting fuel to the warfighter involves complex logistical and technical challenges, intricate planning, and more importantly, poses safety risks to the troops transporting it. As the battlefield becomes increasingly multifaceted, energy resilience is a top concern for the Air Force, and optimized operations are an essential component to maintaining it. ... MORE

A C-17 Globemaster III from the 14th Airlift Squadron, Charleston Air Force Base, S.C., banks over the Arthur J. Ravenel Bridge in Charleston, S.C., during a training mission May 16, 2006. (U.S. Air Force photo/Tech. Sgt. Russell E. Cooley IV)