Reuters reports, “A Virgin Atlantic passenger jet powered by 100% sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) successfully completed a London-to-New York jaunt on Tuesday in an effort to showcase the potential of low-carbon options that currently make up a tiny fraction of the industry’s fuel mix.” Although it carried no passengers, “the flight, operated by a Virgin Boeing 787 powered by Rolls-Royce Trent 1000 engines, is the first time a commercial airliner has flown long haul on 100% SAF.” In a statement, Virgin Atlantic founder Richard Branson said, “It’s going to take a while before we can get enough fuel where everybody’s going to be able to fly. But you’ve got to start somewhere.”
Full Story (Reuters)
Tag: 100% SAF
Rolls-Royce Successfully Test Flies Trent 1000 on 100% SAF
Aviation International News reports that Rolls-Royce announced Tuesday it “has carried out a successful test flight of its 747 flying testbed aircraft using 100 percent Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) in a Trent 1000 turbofan.” The aircraft “flew from Tucson International Airport in Arizona, passing over New Mexico and Texas, carrying a Trent 1000 engine running on unblended SAF while the remaining three RB211 engines ran on standard jet fuel, arriving back in Tucson three hours and 54 minutes later.”
Full Story (Aviation International News)
A380 Flies for the First Time on 100% SAF
Aviation International News reports that Airbus, “for the first time, has performed an A380 flight powered by 100 percent sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) in one of its Rolls-Royce Trent 900 engines, the company said Monday. A380 test aircraft MSN 1 took off from Blagnac Airport in Toulouse, France, at 8:43 am on Friday, remaining in the air for about three hours” on Friday.
Full Story (Aviation International News)