H2Fly achieves world’s first piloted liquid hydrogen powered flights

H2Fly achieves success with world’s first piloted liquid hydrogen powered flights

Sep 7, 2023 - 11:32 am

H2Fly has successfully completed four liquid hydrogen-powered electric aircraft flights using its piloted HY4 demonstrator aircraft, with one flight lasting more than three hours.

The test campaign has indicated that using liquid hydrogen instead of gaseous hydrogen will increase the range fo the HY4 aircrfat to 1,500km and is another step forward in the delivery of emissions-free, medium- and long-haul commercial flights.

Professor Josef Kallo, co-founder of H2FLY, commented, “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.

“We are now looking ahead to scaling up our technology for regional aircraft and other applications, beginning the critical mission of decarbonizing commercial aviation,” he added.

The successful test flight campaign is part of Project HEAVEN, a European-government-supported consortium assembled to demonstrate the feasibility of using liquid, cryogenic hydrogen in aircraft. The consortium is led by H2FLY and includes Air Liquide, Pipistrel Vertical Solutions, the German Aerospace Center (DLR), EKPO Fuel Cell Technologies, and Fundación Ayesa.

With the completion of the flight testing in project HEAVEN, H2FLY will focus on the path to commercialization. In 2024, the company will open its Hydrogen Aviation Center at Stuttgart Airport, co-funded by the Ministry of Transport Baden Württemberg. The Center will become a focal point for the future of Europe’s aviation industry and its hydrogen economy, providing fuel cell aircraft integration facilities and liquid hydrogen infrastructure.

Subscribe to the FINN weekly newsletter