About NATEF
The National Test Facility for Fuels and Propulsion is funded with a $2.7 million grant from the U.S. Air Force and is housed in the Niswonger Aviation Technology Building at the Purdue Airport. The facility tests aerospace hardware in engines and aircraft and provides data related to fuel-sustainability and emissions goals and for economic assessments. Work focuses on jet engines but also includes some testing related to piston engines. The work will tackle four major bottlenecks to aerospace progress: access to hardware testing; development of control logic and systems permitting flex-fuel operation and realization of improved efficiencies; sustainability of biofuels related to crop productivity, as well as bio and synthetic fuels’ ability to meet both near- and long-term aerospace requirements; and regulatory compliance.
