Rolls- Royce and Boeing have performed a successful test flight using 100% Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) on a Trent 1000 engine, powering a 747 Flying Testbed aircraft. The successful test flight was conducted in partnership with World Energy, the world's first and US' only SAF producer, which provided the low-carbon fuel for the flight.
The aircraft flew from Tucson airport in Arizona, passing over New Mexico and Texas for three hours and 54 minutes. Rolls-Royce stated that initial indications confirmed no engineering issues, providing further proof of SAF's suitability for commercial use. In addition to providing oversight on aircraft modifications, Boeing offered technical support and assurance that all aircraft systems would operate as expected.
Gene Gebolys, CEO, World Energy, said, 'Rolls-Royce's work to prove the viability of powering the jet engines they make with the 100% renewable SAF we make lays the groundwork for fossil-fuel-free flight.' Last week, the engine maker confirmed that all its Trent engines will be 100% SAF compatible by 2023.
Current regulations certify aircraft to operate only on a maximum of 50% SAF blended with conventional jet fuel. Simon Burr, Director, Product Development and Technology – Civil Aerospace, Rolls-Royce, said, 'This flight is another example of collaboration across the value chain to make sure all the aircraft technology solutions are in place to enable a smooth introduction of 100% SAF into our industry.'
Sheila Remes, Vice President of Environmental Sustainability, Boeing, said the successful flight test further illustrated that SAF can fully replace conventional jet fuel over the long term and is a viable renewable energy solution to decarbonise aviation over the next 20-30 years.