Rolls-Royce & Gulfstream Conduct Test On 100% SAF Blend G650 Business Jet

Another step towards the goal of having business jets capable of flying on 100% sustainable aviation fuel (SAF).


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American business jet manufacturer Gulfstream and British engine maker Rolls-Royce have completed the first test flight of the BR725-powered G650 jet, which operated on a blend of 100% sustainable aviation fuel (SAF).

A historic flight for the business jet industry

More and more airlines and aircraft manufacturers are using and testing SAF in their commercial aircraft. This week, business jet manufacturer Gulfstream joined these sustainable efforts by conducting the world's first flight of a business jet running on 100% SAF.

The 100% SAF test flight of the Gulfstream G650 took place on December 16, 2022, at the company's headquarters in Savannah, Georgia, the United States.

The test used a SAF that consisted of two components. The first part was HEFA, produced by World Energy in California from waste grease and vegetable oils. The second part was SAK, which was made from waste vegetable sugars by Virent in Wisconsin.

According to Rolls-Royce, this fuel, which is still in development, eliminates the need for any petroleum-based components. It enables a 100% drop-in SAF that can be used in existing jet engines and infrastructures without modification.

The British engine manufacturer added that this test flight has further supported the process of certifying this type of fuel. It is worth noting that current certifications limit Rolls-Royce engines to a maximum SAF content of 50%.

Dr. Joerg Au, Chief Engineer - Business Aviation and Engineering Director Rolls-Royce Germany, said:

"Sustainable aviation fuels are essential for the decarbonisation of the skies, as they have the potential to significantly reduce the carbon emissions of aviation, and we have already proved they can be used as a drop-in fuel to power existing engines."

Sustainability goals

The aviation sector as a whole is under pressure to reduce its carbon footprint. However, this is especially true for manufacturers of fuel-guzzling business jets.

The National Business Aviation Association (NBAA), the General Aviation Manufacturers Association (GAMA), and the International Business Aviation Council (IBAC) have set goals for the sector to achieve "carbon-neutral growth" after 2020 and net-zero carbon dioxide emissions by 2050. According to Gulfstream, the business jet industry's goal was to increase its fuel efficiency by 2% annually by 2020.

Mark Burns, president at Gulfstream, said:

"At Gulfstream, leading our industry closer to decarbonization is a long-standing priority, and testing, evaluating and promoting new developments in SAF takes us another step closer to that goal. We are grateful for our partnership with Rolls-Royce to be able to demonstrate yet another milestone in these efforts."

Gulfstream G650 - a record-breaking jet

With the first test flight conducted on 100% sustainable aviation fuel (SAF), the Gulfstream G650 is also known for its extremely high speed and ultra-long range.

The G650 can reach speeds of up to Mach 0.925 and has a maximum range of 7,000 nautical miles (12,964 kilometers), allowing it to easily make non-stop flights between economic centers such as London and New York. In addition, the cabin of this aircraft can be arranged to accommodate between 11 and 18 people.

With more than 500 aircraft in service, Gulfstream says the G650 and G650ER have set more than 120 world speed records, including the record for the longest flight in business aviation.