Arab Press

بالشعب و للشعب
Monday, Aug 04, 2025

Britain's Royal Air Force Completes World's First Flight Using Synthetic Fuel

Britain's Royal Air Force Completes World's First Flight Using Synthetic Fuel

"Zero Petroleum's synthetic UL91 fuel is manufactured by extracting hydrogen from water and carbon from atmospheric carbon dioxide," the Ministry of Defence said in a statement
Britain's Royal Air Force (RAF) has set a world first by completing the first flight using only synthetic fuel, the Ministry of Defence said.

Group Captain Peter Hackett completed a short flight in an Ikarus C42 microlight aircraft at an airfield in Gloucestershire, western England, earlier this month.

"Zero Petroleum's synthetic UL91 fuel is manufactured by extracting hydrogen from water and carbon from atmospheric carbon dioxide," the MoD said in a statement on Wednesday.

"Using energy generated from renewable sources like wind or solar, these are combined to create the synthetic fuel."

The ministry said it had the potential to save 80-90 percent of carbon per flight and help the air force's aim of using synthetic fuel to power fast jets in the future.

"This is a world first 'innovation'," said minister for defence procurement Jeremy Quin, whose government has set a target of Britain reaching net zero carbon emissions by 2050.

"Whilst green technologies like electric and hydrogen power generation are viable for many RAF platforms, high-performance aircraft require a liquid fuel alternative, like the UL91, to maintain operational capabilities."

The aviation industry -- one of the biggest emitters of greenhouse gases -- has embarked on a major effort to green its image and to develop less polluting fuels.

The RAF -- motto "per ardua ad astra" (through struggle to the stars) -- is planning its first airbase to be net zero by 2025 and be carbon neutral across the service by 2040.

Synthetic or electrofuels (e-fuels) use hydrogen, produced by electrolysis, and capture carbon dioxide from the atmosphere.

By recombining the two, fuel similar to aviation kerosene is obtained.

To be environmentally friendly, the electricity needed to produce it must be decarbonised, and come from renewable or nuclear sources.

These cutting-edge technologies are experimental but are still much more expensive than renewable fuels that are being widely tested by the industry, and cost more than kerosene.
Newsletter

Related Articles

Arab Press
0:00
0:00
Close
British Tourist Dies Following Hair Transplant in Turkey, Police Investigate
WhatsApp Users Targeted in New Scam Involving Account Takeovers
Trump Deploys Nuclear Submarines After Threats from Former Russian President Medvedev
Germany’s Economic Breakdown and the Return of Militarization: From Industrial Collapse to a New Offensive Strategy
Germany Enters Fiscal Crisis as Cabinet Approves €174 Billion in New Debt
IMF Upgrades Global Growth Forecast as Weaker Dollar Supports Outlook
Politics is a good business: Barack Obama’s Reported Net Worth Growth, 1990–2025
UN's Top Court Declares Environmental Protection a Legal Obligation Under International Law
"Crazy Thing": OpenAI's Sam Altman Warns Of AI Voice Fraud Crisis In Banking
Japanese Prime Minister Vows to Stay After Coalition Loses Upper House Majority
President Trump Diagnosed with Chronic Venous Insufficiency After Leg Swelling
Man Dies After Being Pulled Into MRI Machine Due to Metal Chain in New York Clinic
FIFA Pressured to Rethink World Cup Calendar Due to Climate Change
Iranian President Reportedly Injured During Israeli Strike on Secret Facility
Kurdistan Workers Party Takes Symbolic Step Towards Peace in Northern Iraq
BRICS Expands Membership with Indonesia and Ten New Partner Countries
Elon Musk Founds a Party Following a Poll on X: "You Wanted It – You Got It!"
AI Raises Alarms Over Long-Term Job Security
Russia Formally Recognizes Taliban Government in Afghanistan
Saudi Arabia Maintains Ties with Iran Despite Israel Conflict
Mediators Edge Closer to Israel-Hamas Ceasefire Agreement
Germany Seeks Taliban Deal to Deport Afghan Migrants
Emirates Airline Expands Market Share with New $20 Million Campaign
Robots Compete in Football Tournament in China Amid Injuries
China Unveils Miniature Insect-Like Surveillance Drone
Marc Marquez Claims Victory at Dutch Grand Prix Amidst Family Misfortune
Iran Executes Alleged Israeli Spies and Arrests Hundreds Amid Post-War Crackdown
Trump Asserts Readiness for Further Strikes on Iran Amid Nuclear Tensions
Qatar Airways Clears Backlog of Passengers Following Missile Threats
Iran's Parliament Votes to Suspend Cooperation with Nuclear Watchdog
Trump Announces Upcoming US-Iran Meeting Amid Controversial Airstrikes
Trump Moves to Reshape Middle East Following Israel-Iran Conflict
NATO Leaders Endorse Plan for Increased Defence Spending
U.S. Crude Oil Prices Drop Below $65 Amid Market Volatility
“You Have 12 Hours to Flee”: Israeli Threat Campaign Targets Surviving Iranian Officials
Oman Set to Introduce Personal Income Tax, First in Gulf
Germany and Italy Under Pressure to Repatriate $245bn of Gold from US Vaults
Trump Praises Iran’s ‘Very Weak’ Response After U.S. Strikes and Presses Israel to Pursue Peace
WATCH: Israeli forces show the aftermath of a massive airstrike at Iran's Isfahan nuclear site
We have new information and breaking details to share about what is shaping up to be a historic air campaign tonight
Six Massive Bombs Dropped on Fordow; Trump: 'A Historic Moment for the U.S., Israel, and the World'
Fordow: Deeply Buried Iranian Enrichment Site in U.S.–Israel Crosshairs
United States Conducts Precision Strikes on Iran’s Nuclear Sites
US strikes Iran nuclear sites, Trump says
Pakistan to nominate Trump for Nobel Peace Prize.
Israel Confirms Assassination of Quds Force Commander in Tehran
16 Billion Login Credentials Leaked in Unprecedented Cybersecurity Breach
Senate hearing on who was 'really running' Biden White House kicks off
G7 Leaders Fail to Reach Consensus on Key Global Issues
Mass exodus in Tehran as millions try to flee following Trump’s evacuation order
×