German hydrogen propulsion startup H2FLY has achieved an modern milestone in zero-emission aviation by finishing the world’s first crewed flights powered by liquid hydrogen. The flights came about at a small airport in Maribor, Slovenia, as a part of Project HEAVEN (High powEr density FC System for Aerial Passenger VEhicle fueled by liquid HydrogeN), an EU-funded partnership geared toward demonstrating the feasibility of utilizing cryogenic hydrogen in plane.
H2FLY’s HY4 plane depends solely on liquid hydrogen as gas, using a hydrogen fuel-cell powertrain for all the flight. During a current check flight, the HY4 remained within the air for over 3 hours, demonstrating its capacity to function with diminished emissions and longer flight instances. The plane can keep aloft for as much as eight hours when totally loaded with its 24kg hydrogen storage capability.
Liquid hydrogen presents a number of benefits over gaseous hydrogen, together with increased vitality density, which reduces the necessity for giant gas tanks and permits for better payload capability. However, it requires cryogenic temperatures (round -253°C) for storage and refueling, including complexity to logistics.
While the HY4 just isn’t supposed for business manufacturing, H2FLY plans to scale up its fuel-cell system to megawatt capability. The H2F-175 system, developed in partnership with Deutsche Aircraft, goals to retrofit a 30-seat Dornier 328 demonstrator with hydrogen-electric gas cells, with check flights anticipated by 2025. H2FLY’s CEO, Dr. Josef Kallo, envisions scaling as much as energy bigger plane for as much as 100 passengers sooner or later, probably together with solely new plane designs.
H2FLY’s HY4 plane. (Image: H2FLY)
The success of hydrogen-powered aviation additionally will depend on establishing refueling infrastructure. H2FLY collaborated with Air Liquide for Project HEAVEN, marking the primary time that liquid hydrogen was refueled at a business airport. The hydrogen was transported to Maribor by truck below strict security laws.
Liquid hydrogen’s potential to scale back emissions and lengthen flight ranges is taken into account a big development within the quest for cleaner aviation. H2FLY, based in 2015, was acquired by Joby Aviation in 2021, a California-based firm centered on creating electrical vertical take-off and touchdown (eVTOL) automobiles for air taxi providers.
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