# Seawater-Fueled Model Airplanes The US Navy Used Seawater to Fuel a Model P-51 Mustang Airplane By Rahul Kalvapalle | Published 2014-04-14 | Autos Source: Trend Hunter, https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/p51-mustang References: [gizmag](http://www.gizmag.com/seawater-hydrocarbon-fuel-airplane/31569/) & [nrl.navy.mil](http://www.nrl.navy.mil/media/news-releases/2014/scale-model-wwii-craft-takes-flight-with-fuel-from-the-sea-concept) Scientists from the US Naval Research Laboratory successfully flew a radio-controlled model P-51 Mustang that was running on fuel derived purely from seawater. The fuel was obtained using the lab's gas-to-liquid technology, which runs seawater through a special machine which removes carbon dioxide from the water while producing hydrogen as part of the process. The carbon dioxide and hydrogen gases are then converted into a liquid hydrocarbon fuel. That fuel was then used to power a remote-controlled model P-51 Mustang, which was fitted with its original two-stroke engine. The successful flight test marked the first time that liquid hydrocarbon fuel was used to power a conventional combustion engine. The researchers are now working on upscaling the system so it can be used in commercial settings. ## Trend Insights (Trend Hunter) - Score: 1.6/10 - Popularity: 7% | Activity: 32% | Freshness: 8% - Audience gender: 90% men, 10% women - Primary generations: Gen Z, Millennial, Gen X - Top markets: North America ## Categories [Trend Hunter](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends) > [Autos](https://www.trendhunter.com/autos) ## Key Themes ### What Makes This Trend Stand Out - **Seawater-fueled Vehicles:** The use of seawater-derived fuel for various types of vehicles, such as cars, boats, and drones, presents disruptive innovation opportunities in transportation. - **Gas-to-liquid Technology:** Advancements in gas-to-liquid technology for converting carbon dioxide and hydrogen into liquid hydrocarbon fuel offer opportunities for disruptive innovation in the energy sector. - **Alternative Energy Sources:** Exploring unconventional energy sources like seawater can lead to disruptive innovation in the renewable energy industry by reducing dependence on fossil fuels. ### Sectors Adopting This - **Transportation:** The transportation industry can explore the use of seawater-derived fuel for a wide range of vehicles, creating disruptive innovation opportunities in clean and sustainable transportation. - **Energy:** The energy sector can benefit from advancements in gas-to-liquid technology by leveraging alternative energy sources like seawater, leading to disruptive innovations in renewable energy production. - **Manufacturing:** Manufacturing industries involved in producing gas-to-liquid conversion machines and equipment for seawater-derived fuel can take advantage of disruptive innovation opportunities in the growing alternative energy market. ## Related on Trend Hunter - [Hydrogen Fuel-Cell Engines](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/airbus.md) - [Hydrogen-Powered Jet Engines](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/rollsroyce-ae-2100.md) - [Hybrid-Electric Seaplanes](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/tidal-flight.md) - [Ammonia-Powered Ships](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/novel-ship.md) - [Decarbonizing Demonstrator Aircraft](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/demonstrator-aircraft.md) - [Sustainable Truck Modifications](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/clearflame.md) - [Emissions-Free eVTOL Aircraft](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/emissionsfree-evtol-aircraft.md) - [Sustainable Aviation Fuels](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/decarbonizing-aviation.md) - [Progressive Air-Breathing Satellites](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/sabresat.md)