H2FLY, a Stuttgart, Germany-based company developing hydrogen-electric powertrain systems for aircraft, says it has completed the world’s first manned flight of an electric aircraft powered by liquid hydrogen.
During the flight test campaign, The H2FLY team conducted four flights using liquid hydrogen, one of which lasted over three hours..
The flight was conducted using H2FLY’s manned demonstrator HY4, which is equipped with a cryogenically stored liquid hydrogen propulsion system and a hydrogen-electric fuel cell propulsion system.
According to the results of the test flight, The switch from gaseous to liquid hydrogen will extend the maximum range of the HY4 aircraft from 750km to 1,500km.We will significantly introduce zero-emission medium- and long-haul commercial flights.
“This achievement marks a milestone in the use of hydrogen as a power source for aircraft. Together with our partners we have demonstrated the feasibility of liquid hydrogen supporting medium- and long-range emission-free flights,” said Professor Josef Kalo, co-founder of H2FLY.
“We now aim to scale our technology for regional aircraft and other applications, beginning the important mission of decarbonizing commercial aviation,” he added.
The success of this campaign marks a major turning point for H2FLY and highlights the depth of the company’s research efforts.
Additionally, it marks the completion of Project HEAVEN, a collaborative effort funded by the European Union to demonstrate the feasibility of using liquid cryogenic hydrogen on board aircraft.
The partnership led by H2FLY also includes the German Aerospace Center (DLR), Air Liquide, Pipistrel Vertical Solutions, EKPO Fuel Cell Technologies and Fundación Ayesa.
The German Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Climate Change (BMWK), the German Federal Ministry for Digitalization and Transport (BMVD) and the University of Ulm all provide funding to the initiative and the project “HEAVEN”.
The use of liquefied cryogenic hydrogen (LH2) significantly reduces tank weight and volume compared to pressurized gaseous hydrogen storage (GH2).Increases aircraft range and payload.
“Air Liquide is proud to have worked with H2FLY to design, manufacture and integrate the liquid hydrogen tanks that will power the HY4 aircraft. Today’s success proves the potential of liquid hydrogen in aviation, which can be stored and transported on board. Hydrogen is key to the energy transition and this new step proves that it is already becoming a reality,” said Pierre Crespi, Innovation Director, Air Liquide Advanced Technologies.
