RAF Voyager makes world-first SAF flight
Above:
The Airbus A330MRTT RAF Voyager completes first flight powered by 100% SAF on both engines at RAF Brize Norton.
Courtesy MoD / Photo Steve Lympany / Crown Copyright
An RAF Voyager – the military variant of the Airbus A330 commercial jetliner - took to the skies above RAF Brize Norton in Oxfordshire, England, on Wednesday powered completely by 100% Sustainable Aviation Fuel on both engines, paving the way for a range of possibilities for the future of flying military aircraft.
The flight was a joint endeavour between the RAF, DE&S, aircraft manufacturer Airbus, British aircraft leasing company AirTanker and engine manufacturer Rolls-Royce, with the fuel supplied by Air bp.
DE&S played a key enabling role in the trial, ensuring the use of a single voyager aircraft for the duration and putting in place the contractual arrangements to enable the procurement of the SAF required. Additionally, through the Voyager Chief Engineer, DE&S issued the military permit to fly which enabled the trial to take place using a military aircraft.
As different approaches will suit different platforms and environments, a range of alternative fuel options are being looked at to ensure the UK is at the forefront of this developing technology.
Michael Schoellhorn, CEO of Airbus Defence and Space, said: “True to our purpose of 'pioneering aerospace', we have gladly supported the Royal Air Force on this landmark sustainable-fuel test flight. I commend our UK customer for this achievement which helps pave the way for a sustainable reduction of carbon emissions of our military aircraft fleets. Airbus engineers have made a significant contribution to this RAF mission by providing on-the-ground expertise in recent weeks and securing the necessary MoD military flight permits.”
Geoffrey Simpson, DE&S Chief Engineer & Type Airworthiness Authority (TAA) for the Voyager Platform, was instrumental in organising the trials and the military permit to fly, ultimately signing off the flight as being safe to take place. He said: “It has been truly exciting to be a part of an initiative that has demonstrated to the world that 100% sustainable fuel can be used safely. There is still a way to go but I am incredibly proud to have been part of something that represents a major stepping-stone in the sustainability process.
“Additionally, there was an exceptional team spirit amongst the engineers, both internally and with our industry partners and being here with them to witness the final flight has been the culmination of what’s been a genuinely rewarding journey.”
Richard Murray, Director Air Support at DE&S, added: “DE&S staff involved in this ground-breaking flight can be rightly proud of their part on this remarkable achievement. It is hoped demonstrating these sustainability benefits will further stimulate the market to continue taking an innovative approach towards future operating capability and help DE&S support Defence and the wider government’s climate change ambitions.”
"The 90-minute flight from RAF Brize Norton, flown by a combined RAF, RollsRoyce and Airbus flight test crew, replicated an air-to-air refuelling sortie and was witnessed by senior RAF and industry representatives. It demonstrated the RAF’s potential for its future operational capability, ensuring the ability to contribute to UK defence wherever and whenever required."
Sustainable Aviation Fuel – which is made from waste-based sustainable feedstocks, in this case used cooking oil – reduces lifecycle carbon emissions by up to 80% compared to the conventional fuel it replaces, lessens the RAF’s reliance on global supply chains and improves operational resilience by reducing the necessity for fuel resupplying.
As different approaches will suit different platforms and environments, a range of alternative fuel options are being looked at to ensure the UK is at the forefront of this developing technology.
Experimental test pilot and Captain of the flight, Jesus Ruiz, said: “From the crew perspective, the SAF operation was ‘transparent’, meaning that no differences were observed operationally. The Test Plan was exhaustive and robust and has allowed us to compare SAF with JET1 culminating in a flight without a single drop of fossil fuel. Teamwork was a key contributor, harmonsing experience from Airbus, Rolls-Royce and the RAF. We feel very proud to be a small part of this huge step for sustainable aviation.”
UK Defence Minister Baroness Goldie said: “The Royal Air Force has flown the UK’s first military air transport flight using 100% sustainable aviation fuel on one of their operational Voyager aircraft. They should be rightly proud of this achievement; it is a breakthrough moment for the RAF and an exciting development for the MoD. Through the RAF’s pioneering spirit, expertise and partnership with UK industry, British science and engineering is leading the way in improving operational resilience and developing future operating capability in a climate-changed world.”
Chief of the Air Staff, Air Chief Marshal Sir Mike Wigston said: “Climate change is a transnational challenge that threatens our resilience, our security and our collective prosperity. That is why I have set the RAF the ambitious challenge of becoming the world’s first net-zero Air Force by 2040. The way we power our aircraft will be key to meeting that challenge and the RAF is already thinking about how we will operate beyond fossil fuels. This exciting trial flight of a Voyager from RAF Brize Norton powered entirely by Sustainable Aviation Fuel is an important milestone on that journey, and marks another technological first for the RAF alongside our industry partners.”
Aviation Minister at the Department for Transport, Baroness Vere said: "Our Jet Zero Strategy made clear that sustainable aviation fuels are key to greener flight for both military and civilian aviation.
"This is a win for the planet and a testament to British ingenuity. We have launched the £165 million Advanced Fuels Fund to kickstart a homegrown SAF industry, as well as challenging the sector to deliver the first net zero transatlantic flight next year."
Alex Zino, Executive Vice President Business Development and Future Programmes, Rolls-Royce said: “Across Rolls-Royce we are committed to partnering with our customers to help them become more resilient to climate change. Ensuring our engines are compatible with sustainable aviation fuel is just one of the ways we are doing this. This flight demonstrates what we can achieve through effective collaboration between industry and our armed forces customers, and I am delighted to see that those partnerships have enabled this achievement to take place.”
Martin Thomsen, Senior Vice President, Air bp said: “We are delighted to be continuing our collaboration with Rolls-Royce on this RAF sustainable aviation fuel test flight. Our ambition is to be the decarbonisation partner to the aviation industry and we are working at pace with industry players to promote SAF availability, accessibility and affordability to support the aviation industry to meet its lower carbon goals."
While continuing to fulfil the priority focus of protecting the nation, the sustainable aviation fuel could mark a step-change towards the RAF’s goal to be Net Zero by 2040. Working towards the Government’s Net Zero 2050 goal and Jet Zero Strategy, the RAF also plans for their first Net Zero airbase by 2025.
