Having successfully completed its first part-biofuel powered flight late last month, Virgin is hoping a trial can be performed using algae as a biofuel source within 12 months.

On 24 February a Virgin Atlantic General Electric CF6-powered Boeing 747-400 performed a biofuel test flight. One of the aircraft’s engines was powered by a 20% mix of a biofuel, composed of babassu oil and coconut oil, without any modification to the aircraft or engine.

Speaking during a media briefing in New York, Virgin Atlantic Airways president Sir Richard Branson said the initial test data from the trial is extremely good.

“We did tests on the ground before we did the [flight] test last week and on the ground we were showing that quite

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