German hydrogen propulsion startup H2FLY has achieved an progressive milestone in zero-emission aviation by completing the world’s first crewed flights powered by liquid hydrogen. The flights happened at a small airport in Maribor, Slovenia, as a part of Challenge HEAVEN (Excessive powEr density FC System for Aerial Passenger VEhicle fueled by liquid HydrogeN), an EU-funded partnership aimed 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. Throughout a latest take a look at flight, the HY4 remained within the air for over 3 hours, demonstrating its capacity to function with decreased emissions and longer flight occasions. The plane can keep aloft for as much as eight hours when absolutely loaded with its 24kg hydrogen storage capability.
Liquid hydrogen provides a number of benefits over gaseous hydrogen, together with larger vitality density, which reduces the necessity for big gas tanks and permits for larger payload capability. Nonetheless, it requires cryogenic temperatures (round -253°C) for storage and refueling, including complexity to logistics.
Whereas the HY4 just isn’t supposed for industrial manufacturing, H2FLY plans to scale up its fuel-cell system to megawatt capability. The H2F-175 system, developed in partnership with Deutsche Plane, goals to retrofit a 30-seat Dornier 328 demonstrator with hydrogen-electric gas cells, with take a look at 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 fully new plane designs.
H2FLY’s HY4 plane. (Picture: H2FLY)
The success of hydrogen-powered aviation additionally depends upon establishing refueling infrastructure. H2FLY collaborated with Air Liquide for Challenge HEAVEN, marking the primary time that liquid hydrogen was refueled at a industrial airport. The hydrogen was transported to Maribor by truck beneath strict security rules.
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 targeted on growing electrical vertical take-off and touchdown (eVTOL) automobiles for air taxi companies.
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