Gulfstream anticipated the carrier Virgin Atlantic and carried out on Sunday, November 19, the world’s first transatlantic flight of an aircraft using 100% sustainable aviation fuel (SAF).
The business jet manufacturer sent a G600 to Farnborough, England, from its headquarters in Savannah (Georgia). The flight lasted 6 hours and 56 minutes and went without any problems.
The two Pratt & Whitney PW815GA engines used 100% SAF produced by World Energy. Gulfstream said the flight will help the company and its partners better understand fuel behavior in low temperature situations on extended duration flights.
“Gulfstream is innovating for a sustainable future,” said Mark Burns, president, Gulfstream. “One of the keys to achieving business aviation’s long-term decarbonization goals is the broad use of SAF in place of fossil-based jet fuel. The completion of this world-class flight helps to advance business aviation’s overarching sustainability mission and create positive environmental impacts for future generations.”
Produced from Hydroprocessed Esters and Fatty Acids (neat HEFA), the fuel has at least 70% lower lifecycle CO2 emissions than fossil-based jet fuel.
“Gulfstream continues to break new ground in the sustainable aviation space, and we applaud them for completing this mission as we work to validate the compatibility of our engines with unblended SAF,” said Anthony Rossi, vice president, Sales & Marketing, Pratt & Whitney Canada.
Honeywell, Safran and Eaton also participated in the experiment.
Virgin Atlantic will fly the world’s first transatlantic commercial flight with 100% SAF
The milestone achieved by Gulfstream comes just nine days before another similar flight, which will be flown by British carrier Virgin Atlantic.
The airline has scheduled flight VS100 for November 28, with a Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner fueled only by SAF that will fly between London (Heathrow) and New York (JFK).
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The flight has the support of the British government and also the participation of companies such as Rolls-Royce, BP and Boeing.
