Aviation history
Shell has been powering aviation from its earliest beginnings…here are just a few of the milestones the company has been a part of along the way.
Pioneering flight (Credit: Screenocean/Owner)
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Vision
Black and white shot of patterned backdrop with caption ‘Novel Christening. First ‘’Moth’’ aeroplane for a commercial traveller’s use, is christened with petrol, at Stag Lane Aerodrome. 1673, Gaumont Graphic.’’
Black and white footage of an aeroplane with men in uniform around it.
Mrs. George Wilson, the wife of Assistant General Manager of Shell-Mex, and a man are at the top of a ladder, Mrs Wilson pours Golden Shell Oil into the plane.
Mrs Wilson is then presented with a bunch of flowers from a little girl.
The pilot climbs inside the aeroplane and someone is in the back, people gather around.
Mrs Wilson pours in more fuel.
We focus on the passengers.
Mrs Wilson pours more fuel and accepts the flowers again before walking off with the child.
Back to the pilot and passenger as two men turn the front propellers of the plane.
Plane is in the air over a field and passes over a house before landing on the grass.
Men run towards the plane as it lands and run alongside as it comes towards the camera.
The plane turns and the men pull it to a stop.
The men then walk alongside the plane and it takes off again into the sky.
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A look at our aviation highlights
Shell is one of the few companies that has been part of the aviation story for over 100 years, innovating the fuels and lubricants that power flight. The timeline below traces this story.
Take a trip through our aviation highlights
1909
When Louis Bleriot became the first aviator to cross the English Channel, he was powered by Shell fuel.
1919
The first trans-Atlantic flight – by Alcock and Brown – was fuelled by Shell.
1924
First KLM airline Amstedam – Batavia was fuelled with Aeroshell.
1928
AeroShell was launched to market our growing range of aviation products.
1940
Shell helped Sir Frank Whittle to develop the first jet engines.
1960
Shell launched the fuelling hydrant system that’s now the industry standard.
1989
The first non-stop flight from London to Australia was fuelled by Shell.
2008
The Airbus A380 became the first commercial aircraft to fly with synthetic liquid jet fuel processed from Gas to Liquid – processed by Shell.
2013
A lead-free replacement for AvGas was announced by Shell.
