A new cargo airplane designed by Boeing will make its international debut at Paris today after the first transatlantic flight of a commercial aircraft powered by sustainable aviation fuel.

The Boeing 747-8 Freighter landed at Paris Le Bourget Airport earlier, piloted by Capt. Keith Otsuka and Capt. Rick Braun and Cargolux Capt. Sten Rossby.

The crew flew from Everett, Washington to Le Bourget with all four of its General Electric GEnx-2B engines powered by a blend of 15 per cent camelina-based biofuel mixed with 85 percent traditional kerosene Jet A fuel.

No changes were made to the airplane, its engines or operating procedures prior to departure.

Normal flight parameters were followed and approved in advance by the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration.

 

The airplane is the fourth of five Boeing commercial airplanes to arrive at the Paris Air Show in 2011.

It will be on static display at the Paris Air Show during today and tomorrow.

It is scheduled to leave the air show the evening of June 22nd and fly to Cargolux headquarters at Luxembourg for a two-day visit.

Cargolux is scheduled to take delivery of the first 747-8 Freighter to enter service this summer.