According to some official reports, a biofuel-powered flight of Boeing's F/A-18F Super Hornet will mark Earth Day Thursday, being observed worldwide with millions of "green" acts aimed to raise awareness of climate change.

The Boeing Co., whose teams are helping the flight, said that the unmodified aircraft will take off from Naval Air Station Patuxent River, Md., and will be powered by a sustainable biofuel blend of 50 percent camelina and 50 percent JP-5 aviation fuel.

Biofuel-powered flight tests over the past few years have involved several kinds of agricultural feedstock as well as algae. Amid continuing research, the emphasis has shifted from easily available vegetation and food crops to renewable sources that are considered less likely to impact on world food supply.

The company further said that the U. S. Navy is actively pursuing a program to operate with renewable energy sources, including sustainable biofuels. Thursday's flight is part of the Navy's strategy to halve reliance on fossil fuels over the next decade.

Added to the green initiative is the Obama administration's broader emphasis on increased energy-efficiency in the armed forces. That includes the pursuit of green energy use in the the Navy and Marine Corps that got special mention from Navy Secretary Ray Mabus.

Tim Vinopal, environmental chief engineer at Boeing Defense, Space & Security, a unit of the Boeing Co., said that Boeing has been assisting the Navy through laboratory testing of fuel properties and engineering evaluations of fuel system compatibility.

Vinopal further said, "We have worked closely with the aviation and fuels industries for several years to provide our customers with options to reduce environmental impact, including the use of sustainable biofuels." (With Inputs from Agencies)