A European consortium including Pipistrel Vertical Solutions last week conducted the first crewed flight of an aircraft powered by liquid hydrogen.
Project Heaven, a consortium assembled to demonstrate the feasibility of using liquid, cryogenic hydrogen in aircraft, is led by H2FLY and includes also Air Liquide, the German Aerospace Center (DLR), EKPO Fuel Cell Technologies, and Fundación Ayesa.
The consortium made four flights using the HY4 demonstrator aircraft, with one flight exceeding three hours long. The H4Y is fitted with a hydrogen-electric fuel cell propulsion system and cryogenically stored liquid hydrogen.
The consortium said that the flight results indicated that using liquid hydrogen in place of gaseous hydrogen will double the maximum range of the HY4 aircraft from 750 km to 1500 km.
“This achievement marks a watershed moment in the use of hydrogen to power aircraft. Together with our partners, we have demonstrated the viability of liquid hydrogen to support medium and long-range emissions-free flight,” said Professor Josef Kallo, co-founder of H2FLY.
“We are now looking ahead to scaling up our technology for regional aircraft and other applications, beginning the critical mission of decarbonizing commercial aviation."
Tine Tomažič, head of engineering and programs at Pipistrel, says: “To be a part of this magnificent team has been an honour. At Pipistrel, our aim is to be the pioneer of future flight and playing a role on the liquid hydrogen tank integration, we, along with all the other partners involved, are able to demonstrate the success of alternative sustainable fuels, ready to power the aircraft of tomorrow.”
With the completion of the flight testing in Project Heaven, H2FLY will focus on commercialising the technology.
In June, H2FLY announced the development of its new H2F-175 fuel cell systems, which will be capable of providing their full power range in flight altitudes of up to 27,000 feet.