The UK Royal Air Force (RAF), in conjunction with major airframe manufacturer Airbus, aeroengine group Rolls-Royce, fuel producer Air bp, leasing company AirTanker, and the Defence Equipment and Support Agency of the UK Ministry of Defence (MOD), have cooperated to execute the first ever 100% sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) flight using a military aircraft that was currently in service. The aircraft was an Airbus Voyager, the British designation for the A330 Multirole Tanker Transport, itself a military version of the A330 widebody airliner.

This was also the first 100% SAF flight in UK airspace by any type of aircraft. The aircraft took off from RAF Station (base) Brize Norton and the flight, in which both engines were powered by 100% SAF, lasted 90 minutes. The flight test crew was composed of a mix of RAF, Airbus and Rolls-Royce personnel, and replicated an air-to-air refuelling sortie. The flight was observed by senior RAF officers and industry executives.

The fuel was produced from waste-based sustainable feedstocks, including used cooking oil. SAF reduces lifecycle carbon emissions by 80%, in comparison to conventional jet fuels. The RAF seeks to achieve net-zero carbon emission status by 2040, and have one of its bases become net-zero by 2025 (while continuing to prioritise the defence of the country). SAF is one of a number of options being pursued, as different categories of aircraft will require different approaches to achieve low- or zero-carbon flight.  

“Climate change is a transnational challenge that threatens our resilience, our security and our collective prosperity,” highlighted Chief of Air Staff (CAS) Air Chief Marshall Sir Mike Wigston (the CAS is the head of the RAF; Air Chief Marshall is equivalent to full General in South Africa). “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 operate beyond fossil fuels.”

“True to our purpose of ‘pioneering aerospace’, we have gladly supported the [RAF] on this landmark sustainable-fuel test flight,” affirmed Airbus Defence and Space CEO Michael Schoelhorn. “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."

“From the crew perspective, the SAF operation was ‘transparent’, meaning that no differences were observed operationally,” reported Airbus experimental test pilot and Caption of the SAF flight Jesus Ruiz. “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.”