Honda Aircraft Company has reached a major milestone by completing the first flight of a very light twin-turbine aircraft powered entirely by sustainable aviation fuel (SAF).
The test was conducted on a production model HondaJet fueled by a blend of hydroprocessed esters and fatty acids (HEFA), synthetic paraffinic kerosene and hydrodeoxygenated synthetic aromatic kerosene. The flight took place over Greensboro, North Carolina, with the aircraft landing at Honda Aircraft's headquarters at Piedmont Triad International Airport.
The aircraft was powered by the HF120 engine, jointly developed by Honda and General Electric. The engine was widely recognized for its performance and efficiency in the light jet engine category.
While in-service HondaJets can already operate on a 50% SAF blend, this fully SAF-powered flight represents a major step forward in Honda's efforts to reduce CO2 emissions in aviation.
Honda said the success was consistent with its broader environmental goals, noting that the HondaJet is already the most fuel-efficient aircraft in its class, using about 20% less fuel than comparable models. The aircraft has also received multiple awards for its innovation and leadership in sustainable aviation technology.