Partners carry out first biofuel flight using Virgin
747
By Graham Dunn

A Virgin Atlantic Boeing 747-400 has today carried out
its first flight in part using biofuel, flying from
London Heathrow to Amsterdam Schiphol Airport this
morning.

The aircraft flew with one of its four General
Electric CF6 engines using a 20% mix of biofuel
developed by Seattle-based Imperium Renewables
composed of babassu oil and coconut oil. It follows
extensive ground testing by engine manufacturer GE
Aviation and did not require any modification to the
aircraft or engine.

It forms part of the joint Virgin Atlantic initiative
with Boeing and engine manufacturer GE Aviation
announced last April.
Speaking today at the launch of the flight at an event
at Heathrow, Virgin Atlantic president Sir Richard
Branson said it was a significant achievement to carry
out the flight within a year of its initial
announcement, but acknowledged it marked the first
step in the longer term development of a biofuel
replacement to existing fuels.

“Two years ago people said it was also impossible for
a biofuel flight to take place. What we have proved is
biofuel can be used for a flight today,” he says.

The partners say in babassu oil and coconut oil it is
using oils which are environmentally and socially
sustainable, and do not either compete with staple
food supplies or cause deforestation. Babassu oil
comes from the nuts of the babassu tree native to
Brazil, while coconut oils have been used from the
Philippines. Both products are already used in
cosmetic products.
Imperial Renewables president John Plaza says: “We
have created a biofuel that is viable for demo
flights. We think it is a good step in the right
direction. A successful flight will not only validate
the use of biofuels in aviation, but also provide a
glimpse into the future of all fuels.”

Branson adds: “Our search for a fossil fuel
replacement does not end today. What we are using
today is not what we are going to be using when it
goes into commercial use, it will probably be an
algae. It may be other fuels that emerge, but that
[algae] seems the most likely. [But] today’s flight
will prove a different type of fuel can be used.”

Data will be taken from the flight in Amsterdam, ahead
of scheduled maintenance work, for further analysis.
Boeing will also later this year carry out a separate
biofuel flight in co-operation with Air New Zealand
and Rolls-Royce.
Earlier this month Airbus carried out a Roll-Royce
Trent-powered A380 flight using Shell International
Petroleum’s gas-to-liquid (GTL) jet fuel as part of
its alternative fuel research programme.