Bell 505 Becomes First Single-Engine Helicopter To Fly Using SAF

Bell Textron announced that it successfully flew a test flight using sustainable aviation fuel in the Bell 505 helicopter.

Amy Wilder

Wednesday, February 22, 2023 at 03:23 PM ET

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The Bell 505 taking off on 100 percent sustainable aviation fuel. [Credit: Bell]

Key Takeaways:

Bell Textron successfully completed a flight of its Bell 505 helicopter using 100% Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF).
This flight makes the Bell 505 the first single-engine helicopter to fly using 100% SAF.
The achievement signifies a monumental step for sustainability and decarbonization in the rotorcraft industry.
The initiative involved collaboration with Neste for fuel supply, Safran Helicopter Engines for the engine, and GKN Aerospace for components and testing.

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The aviation industry is pushing the boundaries of innovation on various fronts, and sourcing sustainable fuel sources to reduce greenhouse emissions is one of the big ones. Bell Textron has announced it successfully completed a flight using sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) in a Bell 505.

The fuel was supplied by Neste, Safran Helicopter Engines developed the Arrius 2R engine, and GKN Aerospace supplied the components and testing needed for the SAF testing.