Deutsche Aircraft and Pratt & Whitney Canada have successfully completed a series of test flights using fully synthetic Fischer-Tropsch fuel in a D328® UpLift research aircraft.
This achievement marks a step towards the use of sustainable aviation fuels (SAF) produced with Power-to-Liquid (PtL) technology in the future.
The flights, part of the UpLift-CLIM0ART project in collaboration with the German Aerospace Center, demonstrated that the D328® UpLift, powered by Pratt & Whitney Canada’s PW119B engines, performs with the same efficiency using synthetic fuel as it does with conventional kerosene. This synthetic fuel serves as a proxy for future PtL SAF, which will be produced using water, CO2, and renewable energy.
This breakthrough paves the way for Deutsche Aircraft’s next-generation D328eco™ aircraft, powered by Pratt & Whitney Canada PW127XT-S engines, to operate with 100% SAF from its entry into service in 2027.
“This test flight is a testament to our shared commitment to enabling more sustainable aviation through the development of more efficient aircraft and enabling alternative fuels,” said Dave Jackson, CEO of Deutsche Aircraft. He emphasised the need for collaboration and support from governments and energy providers to scale up SAF and PtL production.
The D328eco™, with its PW127XT-S engines, aims to set new standards in regional aviation by significantly reducing fuel burn, emissions, and operating costs. The use of 100% SAF will further enhance its sustainability profile.
“The successful test flight of the D328® UpLift is a major achievement towards our goal of ensuring that the D328eco is ready to operate with future 100% SAF specifications from the EIS stage,” said Nico Neumann, COO of Deutsche Aircraft.
The Deutsche Aircraft D328eco.
