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21 Nov 2022

RAF Voyager takes flight with sustainable aviation fuel

The world’s first 100 per cent sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) flight using an in-service military aircraft has taken place in the sky over England.

Airbus A330MRTT completes first 100 per cent SAF test flight on both engines - MoD Crown Copyright

An RAF Voyager – the military variant of the Airbus A330 - took to the skies above RAF Brize Norton in Oxfordshire on November 16, 2022 powered with SAF on both engines.
The flight, using SAF made from cooking oil, was a joint effort between the RAF, Airbus, the UK Ministry of Defence’s Defence Equipment and Support agency, AirTanker Rolls-Royce, with fuel supplied by Air bp.

In a statement, Air Chief Marshal Sir Mike Wigston, Chief of the Air Staff, said: “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.”

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