Bell 525 Completes First Flight with Sustainable Aviation Fuel

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Bell 525 finishes another milestone and enhances green operations

Fort Worth, TX (November 16, 2021) - Bell Textron Inc., a Textron Inc. (NYSE: TXT) company, announced today the Bell 525 Relentless completed its first flight using Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) in summer 2021. Bell first incorporated SAF in its training and demonstration fleet in March 2021.

“The Bell 525 continues to demonstrate unprecedented performance as it progresses through flight testing,” said Doug May, vice president of Flight, Bell. “Showcasing the aircraft’s usage of SAF further reinforces its position as a true 21st century aircraft, capable of bringing more sustainable practices to the industry and future customers.” 

Bell sources this fuel from Avfuel Corp. and is the fuel provider’s first rotorcraft customer to use and complete flights with SAF. This brand of biofuel, Neste MY SAF, is made from renewable, sustainably sourced waste and residue materials. Once blended, Avfuel anticipates a 22-metric ton reduction in lifecycle carbon emissions per truck load.

Bell’s SAF initiative supports Textron’s Achieve 2025 Sustainable Footprint goal for 20% reduction in greenhouse gas emissions across the enterprise, among other sustainability initiatives.

“At Bell, our goal is to set the standard for clean aviation and pave the way for a greener future by minimizing our operational impact," said Michael Thacker, executive vice president, Innovation and Commercial Business, Bell. "This is a major milestone in our sustainability journey, and we look forward to implementing more carbon emission reduction practices in the future."

The Bell 525 team is currently engaged with the FAA on Type Inspection Authorization (TIA) flight testing and is submitting certification artifacts to the FAA in parallel. The aircraft is designed to support long-range missions, including oil and gas, and offers a significant reduction in fuel consumption compared to other large twin-engine aircraft commonly used for offshore operations. Bell will continue to use SAF for Bell 525 test flights when SAF availability and flight test schedules allow for refueling opportunities.

Learn more about the Bell 525 Relentless and Bell’s use of Sustainable Aviation Fuel.

Bell 525 SAF Release Image.JPG

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Press Contact:

Alexis Baird

+1 817‐487-1020

 

About Bell

Thinking above and beyond is what we do. For more than 85 years, we’ve been reimagining the experience of flight – and where it can take us.

We are pioneers. We were the first to break the sound barrier and to certify a commercial helicopter. We were a part of NASA’s first lunar mission and brought advanced tiltrotor systems to market. Today, we’re defining the future of advanced air mobility.

Headquartered in Fort Worth, Texas – as a wholly-owned subsidiary of Textron Inc., – we have strategic locations around the globe. And with nearly one quarter of our workforce having served, helping our military achieve their missions is a passion of ours.

Above all, our breakthrough innovations deliver exceptional experiences to our customers. Efficiently. Reliably. And always, with safety at the forefront.

About Textron

Textron Inc. is a multi-industry company that leverages its global network of aircraft, defense, industrial and finance businesses to provide customers with innovative solutions and services. Textron is known around the world for its powerful brands such as Bell, Cessna, Beechcraft, Pipistrel, Jacobsen, Kautex, Lycoming, E-Z-GO, Arctic Cat, and Textron Systems. For more information, visit: www.textron.com.

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