The D328® Uplift flying testbed is the first large aircraft to successfully fly with 100% synthetic zero-aromatics fuels © DLR

Deutsche Aircraft completes first test flight with 100% synthetic fuel

German aircraft manufacturer Deutsche Aircraft has successfully completed the first-ever test flight using 100% synthetic zero-aromatics fuel in both engines of its D328® UpLift flying testbed. Conducted on October 9, 2024 at Oberpfaffenhofen Airport, this marks the first time a CS-25 aircraft has flown entirely on fuel chemically identical to power-to-liquid (PtL) fuel. The flight is the launch of the CLIM0ART inflight emission measurement campaign, which aims to study the climate benefits of using 100% zero-aromatics PtL. This sustainable fuel, produced from renewable energy, water and CO2, has the potential to reduce CO2 emissions by up to 95% and mitigate non-CO2 effects.

The CLIM0ART campaign, supported by the German Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Climate Action (BMWK) under the LuFo-Klima Aviation Research Programme, is led by the German Aerospace Centre (DLR) and Deutsche Aircraft, with fuel partner Sasol. The D328® UpLift aircraft flies alongside DLR's Falcon 20E research aircraft, which measures emissions from the synthetic fuel and examines ice crystal properties in contrails. This project is also the first time in-flight emissions from a CS-25 turboprop aircraft have been measured while using fully-synthetic fuels.

The synthetic fuel, supplied by Sasol, is produced using the Fischer-Tropsch process. While the current fuel is not derived from sustainable feedstock, known as “PtL-proxy,” PtL fuels offer a promising path to climate-neutral aviation as they bypass feedstock limitations. Beyond reducing the CO2 footprint, the absence of aromatics in the fuel could significantly lower the warming effects of contrails and improve air quality at airports.

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