Virgin Atlantic 747 test flight to use algae-based B20 biodiesel, report says

February 21, 2008

In the UK, it has been reported by Flight International that Boeing and Virgin Atlantic have selected algae-based biodiesel as the feedstock for the B20 flight trial of a Virgin Atlantic 747 between London and Amsterdam later this month. Boeing has denied the reports, although they acknowledged that algae is one of four finalists along with three unnamed plant-based feedstocks. Boeing’s director of environmental performance, Bill Glover, said that commercial production would not begin until at least 2013.

The flight will involve a crew only and will take the plane from London to Amsterdam. The use of B20 will not require any modifications to the General Electric CF6 engines. The test, resulting from a collaboration between Virgin, Boeing and General Electric, will be mirrored by another test next month by Air New Zealand.

Boeing has confirmed in tests that a wide range of feedstocks can produce biofuels suitable for jet aircraft, and the company says that these biofuels can be commercially produced on an economically viable basis. Boeing said that it expects to offer both financial and technical support to what it sees as a growing distribution system of jet biofuels.

It looks like algae for Air New Zealand test biofuel flight; Aquaflow Bionomic rumored to be fuel supplier

In New Zealand, Aquaflow Bionomic, a maker of algae-based biodiesel, is rumored to be the fuel supplier for the upcoming Air New Zealand biodiesel test flight. nbr.co.nz reported that the company h...

Virgin Atlantic completes historic 747 biodiesel test, uses coconut and babassu oil from Imperium in B20 blend

In England, Virgin Atlantic Airways completed a successful test flight of a biodiesel-powered 747 aircraft, traveling from London to Amsterdam. One of the four engines ran on B20, supplied by Imperium...

Continental Airlines to test biofuels; first US carrier to schedule test flight

Continental Airlines will become the first US airliner to conduct a biofuels test flight. The company announced that, in partnership with GE and Boeing, it would schedule a test biofuels flight in 200...

Air France-KLM signs with Algae Link to procure algae oil for jet fuel blending

In the Netherlands, Air France-KLM announced an agreement with Algae-Link to procure algae oil to be blended with conventional jet fuel. Deliveries of algae oil will commence by the end of 2008, accor...

Airbus, Honeywell announce jet fuel partnership with JetBlue to provide up to 30 percent of fuel by 2030

Airbus and Honeywell announced a partnership that they said would replace up to 30 percent of jet fuel with biofuels. The partnership, which also includes Jet Blue and the International Aero Engines c...

Sir Richard Branson launches Virgin Atlantic biofuels unit, to produce algae-based jet biofuel

In England, Sir Richard Branson announced a new business unit of Virgin Atlantic Airways that would produce algae-based biofuels for the airline's use. Branson told reporters that algae is the best fu...

Written by Jim Lane · Filed Under Consumers & Fleets, International