100 years of going beyond
Since the dawn of powered flight, Shell Aviation has worked with visionaries and pioneers to solve problems, break down barriers and power progress for people all around the world.
Celebrating 100 years of supporting aviation
Shell Aviation officially celebrates its 100th anniversary in 2021. But as we mark this milestone by sharing stories of achievement and collaboration we must look forward too - towards arguably the greatest challenge the sector has ever faced – reaching net-zero emissions. This is a challenge we can overcome if we apply the same spirit of collaboration, problem-solving and innovation that built the aviation industry – working together today to achieve a sustainable tomorrow.
Our Stories
A collaborative spirit is born
Helping the pioneers of flight go further, higher and faster.
Aviation takes off
Supporting aviation’s evolution into to a global business.
Game-changing aviation
Working together to push the boundaries.
Setting safety standards
Championing safety, in the air and on the ground.
Less downtime, more uptime
Driving efficiency and enabling growth.
Flying together towards net-zero emissions
Tackling the challenge of sustainable flight.
Above & Beyond Shell Aviation 100 Years
Title: Above & Beyond Shell Aviation 100 Years
Duration: 135”
Description: Shell Aviation describes the key moments from the last 100 years of aviation history.
[Music]
Sound of Shell - soft but upbeat track plays lightly in the background
[Video Footage]
Throughout the film there is a blue background with cloud effects and photographic images which appear on a timeline
[Video Footage]
A Shell Pecten with Shell Aviation
[Voice Over]
Since the dawn of powered flight, Shell has supported visionaries and pioneers.
But it was our founder, Jerry Shaw, who saw how commercial aviation could change travel for all. And in 1921 Shell Aviation was born.
[Video Footage]
Two images of Jerry Shaw and his colleagues appear, with a black and white plane and the date 1921.
[Voice Over]
Our support for pioneers like Amy Johnson, the first female pilot to fly solo from England to Australia, helped them push boundaries.
[Video Footage]
Image of Amy Johnson, a plane and magazine appears.
[Voice Over]
While our collaborative spirit led to a breakthrough that enabled Sir Frank Whittle’s jet engine to take to the air.
[Video Footage]
Image of Sir Frank Whittle’s with a jet engine. Text 1941 and Lubbock & Whittle appear.
[Voice Over]
It was a Shell additive that helped control the thrusters on Apollo 8 as astronauts ventured on their first space flight orbiting the moon.
And when Concorde took civil aviation supersonic, it was Aeroshell lubricants that protected its engines.
[Video Footage]
Image of Space ship taking off, the Moon and the Lunar module appear. Text 1968 Apollo 8
Image of Concorde and refueller truck and Text 1976 Concorde appear
[Voice Over]
We helped pave the way for sustainable aviation fuel or (SAF) when Qatar Airways flew the first passenger flight powered by our certified synthetic fuel.
[Video Footage]
Image of plane wing being refuelled and a scientist looking at a beaker. Text 2009 synthetic fuel appears.
[Voice Over]
And our unswerving focus on safety led to the development of Shell Jet Protection, a new, safer refuelling system.
[Video Footage]
Image of plane wing and the text 2020 Safety First appear.
[Voice Over]
Now, as the aviation sector faces its greatest challenge yet - how to fly and emit less - we are committed to helping it accelerate towards net-zero emissions.
[Video Footage]
Image of women sitting on plane wing, technicians looking at a Skypad and text Fly & Emit less.
Image of a Female refueler with pipe, yellow plane and text Net- Zero Emissions appear.
[Voice Over]
Together with World Energy and Neste we’ve helped companies like Amazon Air, DHL Express and Lufthansa cut emissions with sustainable aviation fuel or SAF.
[Video Footage]
Text Sustainable Aviation Fuel with yellow plane flying through the middle O appears.
[Voice Over]
We recently announced plans to build one of Europe’s largest biofuels plants, in The Netherlands. This supports our ambition to produce around 2 million tonnes of SAF a year by 2025.
[Video Footage]
Man wearing a red overall appears with the Text 2025 Cleaner Fuels.
Futurist plane image appears with text 2025 Cleaner Fuels
[Voice Over]
We know thatknow that that this is only the start. But through collaboration, we believe the aviation sector can move faster along its journey to net- zero, cutting emissions and powering progress for people all over the world.
[Video Footage]
Image of three Shell employees talking appear, with plane flying away
Text Powering Progress appears.
Shell Logo and Shell Aviation appears
