ZeroAvia has built and flown the world’s largest hydrogen-electric passenger aircraft to date, the Dornier 228. Yesterday, a 19-seat twin-engine aircraft equipped with a prototype hydrogen-electric power plant made a 10-minute flight in the UK.
Image Source: ZeroAvia
The short flight from Cotswold Airport was part of the HyFlyer II project, a government-funded program to develop small passenger aircraft that are more environmentally friendly than models currently in use. The power plant is powered bycompressed hydrogen gas produced by an on-board electrolyzer“. The test configuration included two stacks of fuel cells and lithium-ion batteries placed in the cabin for the duration of the test.
However, in commercial use, it is envisaged to mount power sources outside the fuselage to provide space for passengers. In addition, the right wing had a standard Honeywell TPE-331 turbocharged engine to provide additional thrust during takeoff, as well as provide “insurance” in case of failures in the experimental systems.
ZeroAvia says it intends to certify the technology as early as this year, with commercial flights scheduled to operate by 2025. The company is also working on a program to build a 2-5 MW power plant, which will allow the technology to be used with liners designed for 90 passengers. The ultimate goal is to expand the use of the technology to narrow-body aircraft in the next decade. Such, for example, are the Boeing 737 series airliners.
It is known that the project is financed not only at the expense of public funds – Amazon has invested in developments from its own Climate Pledge Fund, designed to sponsor environmentally friendly projects.
Previously reportedthat in 2024 ZeroAvia intends to organize the first commercial flights of hydrogen fueled aircraft between London and Rotterdam.
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