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)
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.
