The plane made its first flight on liquid hydrogen: it is more powerful and more environmentally friendly than jet fuel

H2FLY The Stuttgart-based German aircraft manufacturer successfully completed the world's first manned flight of an electric aircraft powered by liquid hydrogen on September 7.

Photo: IStock

Now H2Fly expects to be one of the first to present commercial model aircraft powered by hydrogen fuel cells. It was a breakthrough and an achievement to fly on liquid rather than gaseous hydrogen, and to conduct several important tests that confirmed the aircraft's intended range.

The H2FLY team completed four liquid hydrogen flights as part of its flight test campaign, including one flight that lasted more than three hours. The flights were carried out on H4FLY's HY2 manned demonstration aircraft, powered by a hydrogen-electric fuel cell propulsion system and cryogenically stored liquid hydrogen to propel the aircraft.

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Test flight results show that using liquid hydrogen instead of gaseous hydrogen will double the maximum flight range of the HY4 aircraft from 750 km to 1500 km. This will be an important step towards creating environmentally friendly medium- and long-haul commercial aircraft.

Liquid hydrogen is a clean fuel that releases only water when burned, reports “high-tech" Per unit weight, it releases 2,8 times more energy than jet fuel. However, in order to maintain hydrogen in a liquid state, cryogenic temperatures are required.

In addition, hydrogen's energy density per unit volume is extremely low, meaning tanks about four times larger than normal are needed.

However, calculations by H2Fly engineers show that switching to liquid hydrogen from gaseous hydrogen will double the range of the Pipistrel Taurus-based HY4 electric aircraft: from 750 km to 1500 km. In this unusual two-fuselage design, the pilot sits in the right one and the fuel system is located in the left one. Between them is a nacelle with an electric motor and fuel cells.

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“We have demonstrated the suitability of liquid hydrogen for clean, medium- and long-range flights. We now look to scale our technology for regional aviation and beyond, beginning an important mission to decarbonize commercial aviation,” said Joseph Callo, co-founder of H2Fly.

The company is currently working on a new modular fuel cell propulsion system that will produce megawatt-scale power and operate at altitudes of up to 8200 m, suitable for regional aircraft with 20 to 80 seats.

Presumably, such aircraft will begin to fly in the mid-2030s.

In June, H2FLY announced the development of its new H2F-175 fuel cell systems, which will be capable of delivering a full range of power at flight altitudes up to 8,3 km. This is an important step on the path from demonstrating the viability of low-altitude flights to actual flights.

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In 2024, H2FLY will open its Hydrogen Aviation Center at Stuttgart Airport, co-funded by the Baden-Württemberg Ministry of Transport.

In just a few years, hydrogen-electric planes are expected to be able to carry 40 passengers over distances of up to 2000 kilometers.

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