Tue, Aug 01, 2017
Journey Completed In A 1950 Model Beech Bonanza
Swift Fuels, LLC, a global leader in the development of high-performance unleaded aviation gasoline, announced today that the first ever transatlantic flight was completed entirely on unleaded avgas, Swift Fuels UL94.
The 6,689-mile, 45-hour journey was completed in a 1950 Beech Bonanza, call sign N8858A, which was retrofitted for the long trip with an additional ferry tank that gave it a total capacity of 120 gallons. The tanks had been completely drained prior to refueling them, enabling the test flight to be conducted entirely on Swift Fuels UL94. The flight originated in San Carlos, CA and completed in Zweibrücken, Germany. The flight path included eight stops, some at which Swift Fuels is commercially-sold, as well as locations where UL94 shipments were arranged to complete the flight.
The pilots on the domestic US portion were Thomas Albuzat and Ron Adams, and for the challenging transatlantic flight was Espen Jakobsen, Captain, Safety Manager at Orient Global, a professional ferry pilot with more than nine years experience in transcontinental flight. “Swift’s UL94 performed perfectly during every leg of the flight, no matter the altitude or distance," Jakobsen said. "All engine parameters, such as cylinder head temperatures, exhaust gas temperatures, and fuel flow were identical to those of 100LL. It was a great flight!”
“We are extremely proud to have our fuel - the first-ever transatlantic flight on Unleaded UL94 Avgas," said Swift Fuels CEO Chris D’Acosta. "There is no better indicator of fuel performance than with a flight of this distance and magnitude. We’ve now conclusively proven that unleaded avgas performs just as strongly as 100LL – and with the longer-term structural and environmental benefits that go with it, we’re hoping more pilots recognize UL94 as a comparable alternative to leaded fuels with no impact in performance.”
(Source: Swift Fuels news release)
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