On June 10, Blue Spirit Aero rolled out its full-scale hydrogen-powered Dragonfly prototype and completed the world’s first H2 refueling of a light aircraft directly from an airport station in Le Mans, France, site of the famous 24-hour endurance car race held four days later.
Historic Antecedents
In 1908, Wilbur Wright took an early Wright Flyer to Le Mans at the invitation of Léon Bollée, a prominent automotive manufacturer and balloon enthusiast. Wilbur’s flights evoked admiration and stunned appreciation for what the two American brothers had achieved.
As shown in the lead image for this entry H2 Today reported, “Yesterday’s event was nothing short of spectacular. Alongside the H24 EVO racing car, a 1912 Léon Bollée, and a replica of the Wright brothers’ Flyer, the presentation offered a striking blend of past and future. The ceremony was a resounding success, aided by clear skies and a fully operational aircraft.”
Olivier Savin, founder of Blue Spirit Aero, proclaimed, “It was with great pride and emotion that we revealed our working prototype of the Dragonfly to the public. This aircraft is the first realisation of a vision, a passion, and unwavering determination – but above all, the result of a collective effort. It marks the beginning of a new chapter for us: flight testing and certification.”
Blue Spirit Aero not only unveiled its full-scale Dragonfly prototype, a four-seat hydrogen-electric aircraft, it managed what it claims as “the first-ever hydrogen refueling operation at an airport for a light aircraft.” The company notes, “Symbolically, this airfield is the same location where the Wright brothers showcased their Flyer more than a century ago.”
The video is fascinating, but in French without subtitles. It still evokes some of the history of Le Mans, including its aviation heritage.
Dragonfly’s interior highlights the futuristic nature of this technologically advanced airplane
Equipped with 12 electric motors each powered by a complementary hydrogen fuel cell, the craft taxied autonomously to an H2 fueling station installed by tech partner Atawey. According to H2 Today, “This test validated key operational elements, including the fuel system, refueling infrastructure, and aircraft systems integration.”
Savin noted, “This full-scale demonstration marks a founding step towards the commissioning of a new generation of hydrogen aircraft. We were able to validate in real conditions the reliability of our propulsion system, the robustness of the hydrogen refueling chain on the airfield and the overall integration of our technical innovations.”
Harking back to Le Mans’ long history, Pierre Fillon, President of the The Automobile Club de l’Ouest (ACO) explained, “From now on, our racetracks and the airport’s runways will share something vital: hydrogen. We’ve chosen this energy carrier to help decarbonise motorsport – including the Le Mans 24 Hours and the FIA World Endurance Championship – and BSA is pursuing the same goal for aviation with the Dragonfly. Our two R&D ecosystems are working towards the energy transition together.”
Learning on 12 Motors
The Dragonfly is designed for light aviation and pilot training, according to Flight Global. Using Dassault Systèmes’ virtual twin simulation, BSA speeds development of its H2 propulsion systems and looks forward to flight tests in early 2026 and commercial use in 2027. 
Gabriel Pasquiet, Blue Spirit’s head of structure and design, relaxes on one of 12 gaseous H2 power pods, each independent and swappable. One wonders what control magic is involved in managing thrust from all 12 powerplants.
Dragonfly’s Announced Performance
AeroWeb-FR.net expands on the craft’s anticipated performance.
- The Dragonfly is a two-seater (four-seater configuration planned in the future) with performance suited to short regional missions.
- Its take-off distance is less than 300 meters (984 feet).
- Its operational ceiling is 3,050 m or 10,000 ft.
- Its climb rate is greater than 4 m/s (787 feet per minute). It records a cruising speed of approximately 250 km/h (155 mph).
- Autonomy greater than 700 kilometers (434 miles).
- Payload: more than 350 kilograms (770 pounds).
- Maximum take-off weight: less than 1,600 kg (3,520 pounds).
- Hydrogen refueling: less than 10 minutes.
The 12 motors, powered by Ballard fuel cells, put out 180 kilowatts or 229 horsepower. The means each motor/fuel cell pod produces a mere 15 kilowatts or 19 horsepower. It will be interesting to see how this works out in actual practice.
In the meantime, the Dragonfly is an attention grabber and highly innovative. We await flight tests with interest.