Virgin biofuel flight 'successful'

The first ever flight to operate on renewable fuel took place over the weekend as a result of a partnership between Virgin Atlantic, Boeing, GE Aviation and Imperium Renewables.

Taking off yesterday (February 24th) at 11:14 GMT, the flight involved a Boeing 747 jumbo jet flying between Heathrow Airport and Amsterdam on a biofuel made from a mixture of coconut and babassu oil, which comes from a native Brazilian tree and is used in a range of drugs and cosmetics.

It safely landed in Amsterdam an hour later after reaching an altitude of 25,000 feet. The plane carried a total of five people, including the captain, Geoff Andreason.

Virgin Atlantic president Sir Richard Branson said the flight was a "breakthrough" for the aviation industry.

"This pioneering flight will enable those of us who are serious about reducing our carbon emissions to go on developing the fuels of the future, fuels which will power our aircraft in the years ahead through sustainable next-generation oils, such as algae," he commented.

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