Beyond planes: Biofuels starring at Paris Air Show

New models of modern commercial and military jets usually are the stars of the Paris Air Show, held every two years at Le Bourget, the air field where Lindbergh landed after his 1927 solo flight across the Atlantic. But this year the real star is biofuel -- the stuff aviation watchers are counting on to replace petroleum-based jet fuel in the future, made from algae and other plants. U.S. airlines are especially keen to develop commercially viable processes for making large quantities of biomass fuel available.

Here's a story from the Paris Air Show about the industry's interest in biomass fuel. And here is a news release (note this is a statement from the industry, not a news story) from the Air Transport Association about 10 airlines agreeing to support development of biofuels.

There were, of course, the usual announcements at the Paris show from aircraft makers of sales of their products. Here's today's roundup of orders ...