Williams International completes successful flight test of 100 percent SAF

Photo: Williams International

Williams International has completed a successful flight test of its FJ44-4 engine using 100 percent sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) on Williams’ experimental flying testbed. The flight was conducted from Williams’ flight operations center in Pontiac, Michigan, and flew to points in northern Michigan with a total of 3.5 hours of flight time at a cruise altitude of FL450. This flight test follows extensive material compatibility and endurance testing that validated engine performance and durability using 100 percent SAF.

“The flight was uneventful and the engine performed flawlessly,” said Robert Lambert, chief test pilot. “It did not even seem to notice that it was burning sustainable fuel.”

This successful flight marks another step in the Williams Blue Planet initiative to significantly reduce the environmental impact of business aviation by relentlessly driving to a carbon-neutral product lifecycle.

“We have shown that Williams’ engines can utilize 100 percent SAF to decarbonize business aviation,” said Gregg Williams, chairman, president and CEO of Williams International, and copilot of the flight test. “The next critical step is to accelerate the production of SAF to make it more widely available and affordable.”

Headquartered in Pontiac, Michigan, Williams International is a leader in the design, manufacturing and support of small gas-turbine engines.