Our heritage

2022 – Bruce A. Bohannon is inducted into the Texas Aviation Hall of Fame

Soloing at age 16, Bohannon has since become an aviation legend. From 1999 to 2005, he set 30 records in “The Exxon Flyin’ Tiger” – one of the fastest climbing piston-engine aircraft – and with a total of 35 World Performance Records, is the only pilot ever awarded the prestigious “Louis Bleriot Medal” three years in a row. Bohannon is currently owner and operator of the Flyin’ Tiger Flying School in Angleton, Texas, and continues to inspire pilots of all ages.

2019 – ExxonMobil donates over 1,000 litres of hydraulic fluid for Concorde restoration

To commemorate the 50th anniversary of the maiden flight of Concorde, ExxonMobil donated over 1,000 litres of original Exxon M2-V Aviation Hydraulic Fluid to Heritage Concorde, a volunteer preservation group dedicated to the restoration of Concorde aircraft in the United Kingdom and France.

2016 - State-of-the-art Port Allen Aviation Plant begins production in Louisiana

The Port Allen Aviation Plant produces the entire line of Mobil Jet™ aviation lubricants – helping to meet rising demand for high-performance synthetic aviation lubricants. The facility utilizes the latest blending and packaging equipment in conjunction with a range of sustainable features to increase electrical energy efficiency.

2013 - Mobil Jet™ Oil 387 makes its first commercial debut aboard a Boeing 747-8

After ten years of extensive product development and testing, Mobil Jet Oil 387 was selected by a major commercial airliner for maiden voyage on-board a Boeing 747-8 powered by GEnx engines.

2006 - ExxonMobil Aviation jet fuel chosen for all Airbus A380 test flights

Airbus chooses ExxonMobil Aviation jet fuel for every Airbus A380 test flight and a major commercial airliner selects Mobil Jet™ Oil II and Exxon HyJet™ for its inaugural Airbus A380 commercial flight.

2000 - Space walks

During the International Space Station space walks, Mobil Jet™ Oil II oil lubricated electric power generation units, while Mobilgrease™ 28 grease ensured reliability of life support backpacks.

1986 - Around the world non-stop

Voyager, the first plane to fly non-stop around the world without refueling, used specially formulated Mobil synthetic lubricant.

1981 - Space launch

NASA chose Mobil Jet™ Oil II lubricant for the space shuttle Columbia on its first mission. The shuttle orbited the earth 36 times before safely returning to Edwards Air Force Base.

1969 - Supersonic jet

The Concorde supersonic jet began service between Europe and the United States, using legacy Exxon M2V hydraulic fluid to operate critical movements of the iconic droop nose during flights and Mobil Jet™ Oil II lubricant during initial test flights.

1963 - Socony Mobil introduces Mobil Jet Oil II

The first advanced gasoline turbine aircraft engine oil to dramatically reduce engine overhaul intervals, Mobil Jet Oil II was the exclusive oil used by Pan American Airways. Its powder-blue can with the sans serif letters – one of the most recognizable brand packages in the industry – was created after a marketing writer spent $2.35 on colored paper, paste and lettering.

1958 - First trans-Atlantic voyage for the Boeing 707

Pan American Airways flew from New York to London, powered by Mobil aviation fuel.

1938 - Douglas Corrigan’s wrong-way flight to Ireland

Corrigan flew from New York to Ireland in July 1938 with the help of Mobiloil lubricants, even though his plane was licensed for cross-country flights only. After he claimed he crossed the ocean in error, he was dubbed “Wrong Way” Corrigan and received official censure for the stunt – in addition to a ticker tape parade that was said to rival Lindbergh’s.

1933 - Wiley Post’s solo flight around the globe

Post was the first aviator to fly around the world solo, and his aircraft engine was protected by Mobiloil lubricants.

1928 - Amelia Earhart’s solo flight across the Atlantic

Earhart made her historic flight across the Atlantic with Mobiloil lubricants working to protect the engine in Friendship.

(Photo credit: 99s Museum of Women Pilots)

1928 – Sir Hubert Wilkins begins first aerial exploration of Antarctica

Wilkins, a renowned polar explorer, aviator, scientist and photographer from Australia, trusted Gargoyle Mobiloil B for his flight above miles of barren, craggy ice and mountainous land.

1927 - Charles Lindbergh’s first solo non-stop transatlantic flight

When Lindbergh first flew across the Atlantic, he did so using Mobiloil branded lubricants to help protect the engine of the Spirit of St. Louis.

1916 – Ruth Law sets new across-America speed record

Law’s record-setting, 590-mile nonstop flight from Chicago to New York state was aided by Gargoyle Mobiloil A. After the flight, she wrote to Vacuum Oil Company: “Although offered free oil from many concerns, I prefer to buy and pay for Gargoyle Mobiloil. I have yet to find an oil that has the body and durability of Gargoyle Mobiloil A.”

1910 – Sir Thomas Sopwith completes the longest flight from England to the European continent

British aviator Sir Thomas Sopwith used Mobiloil A for his record-setting flight. He later wrote to the Vacuum Oil Company: “I used your Mobiloil A … during my record flight across the channel ... and my engine ran perfectly throughout.”

1903 - The Wright Brothers first take flight

Wilbur and Orville Wright used fuel from Jersey Standard (a legacy ExxonMobil company) and Mobiloil branded lubricants for their historic first flight.