Tech

First Airbus helicopter flight with 100% sustainable aviation fuel

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Marignane, 9 November 2021– An Airbus H225 has performed the first ever helicopter flight with 100% sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) powering one of the Safran Makila 2 engines. The flight, which took place at the company’s headquarters in Marignane, marks the start of a flight campaign aiming to assess the impact of unblended SAF on the helicopter systems in view of certifying the use of SAF blends that exceed today’s 50% limit.

“While all Airbus helicopters are certified to fly with up to a 50% blend of SAF mixed with kerosene, it is our Company’s ambition to have its helicopters certified to fly with 100% SAF within the decade. Today’s flight is an important first step towards this goal”, said Stefan Thome, Executive Vice President, Engineering and Chief Technical Officer, Airbus Helicopters.

The flight campaign, which follows earlier unblended SAF bench tests performed by Safran Helicopter Engines at its Bordes plant, will provide further understanding of the technical challenges associated with the use of 100% SAF. The H225 test helicopter flew with an unblended SAF derived from used cooking oil, provided by TotalEnergies, which offers a net 90% CO2 reduction compared to regular jet fuel.

“SAF is an important pillar of Airbus Helicopters’ decarbonisation strategy because it provides immediate CO2 reduction with no negative impact on the performance of the helicopter,” Thome added. “I thank our partners Safran Helicopter Engines and TotalEnergies for their important collaboration in making today’s flight a reality. Further cooperation among all industry stakeholders is essential to overcome the challenges associated with implementing SAF widely and to make real progress in reducing the aviation industry’s CO2 emissions”.

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In order to drive the deployment of biofuels, Airbus Helicopters has launched a SAF User Group dedicated to the rotary-wing community. The company has also started using SAF for training and test flights at its French and German sites.

@AirbusHeli @SafranHCEngines @TotalEnergies #H225 #SAF #Sustainability

Tech

China Developing Jet to Travel Anywhere in Two Hours

China is making remarkable strides in aviation technology with its ambitious plan to develop a hypersonic passenger jet, capable of flying at speeds that could revolutionize air travel.

The cutting-edge aircraft, dubbed the “Nanqiang No 1,” aims to reach speeds up to six times faster than the legendary Concorde, potentially transporting passengers to any destination on the globe in under two hours.

This futuristic project has already undergone rigorous testing at a state-of-the-art laboratory in Fujian Province. Reports from China indicate that the unmanned prototype is expected to weigh just 500 kilograms, showcasing a sleek and lightweight design optimized for speed. The jet is projected to cruise at an astonishing Mach 6, or six times the speed of sound, which would set new standards for commercial flight.

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The key to achieving such mind-blowing speeds lies in a sophisticated engine design. The “Nanqiang No 1” will utilize a combination of turbofan, rocket, and ramjet engines, pushing the boundaries of what current aviation technology can handle. Early renderings of the aircraft reveal a “MUTTER” engine configuration, which includes two air-breathing ramjet engines, a small rocket engine, and two turbine engines. china 6th generation fighter While there were initial doubts about the feasibility of this engine setup, computer modeling and early lab tests have demonstrated the MUTTER system’s ability to surpass Mach 6.

Though several nations are exploring supersonic and hypersonic flight technology, China’s pursuit of a passenger jet capable of reaching hypersonic speeds puts it at the forefront of this race. Supersonic jets, which travel faster than the speed of sound (Mach 1), are being explored by various aerospace companies worldwide, but China’s vision to push beyond supersonic into the hypersonic realm represents a bold leap into the future of air travel.

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With the potential to redefine how people traverse the globe, China’s hypersonic passenger jet could make long-haul flights obsolete, allowing travelers to reach far-flung destinations in a matter of hours. The country hopes to see the technology realized and operational for tourist use within the next decade, marking a new chapter in aviation history.