The Bell 505 helicopter is the first single-engine chopper to fly with 100% sustainable aviation fuel (SAF), Bell Textron said on February 21.
Bell said it collaborated with Safran Helicopter Engines, Neste, GKN Aerospace and Virent to carry out the landmark flight, which Michael Thacker, executive vice president, commercial business, described as a "monumental achievement for sustainability and decarbonisation in the rotorcraft industry.”
"Our engines are certified to operate on up to 50% SAF and our objective is to certify in the coming years the use of 100% SAF, which can potentially result in carbon life-cycle emissions reductions by up to 80%," said Valentin Safir, executive vice-president, programs, Safran Helicopter Engines, which makes the Arrius 2R engine that powers the 505.
Neste and Virent worked together to "blend, test, and deliver the SAF for this project as a 100% drop-in fuel", Bell reported.
SAF made from used cooking oil or other bio-based feed-stocks typically must be blended with petroleum products because it doesn’t include a component called aromatics, which is required to meet aviation fuel specifications, Bell said, and which Virent produces.