H2Fly Achieves HEAVEN’s Goal

Dean Sigler Announcements, Electric Powerplants, Fuel Cells, GFC, hydrogen, Hydrogen Fuel, Sustainable Aviation Leave a Comment

H2Fly has an historic aircraft in its fleet, the HY4, as part of the HEAVEN program to, “Demonstrate the use of liquid, cryogenic hydrogen in aircraft.”  Originally the G4, the craft won the NASA Green Flight Challenge in 2011, posting a passenger mile per gallon efficiency of 403.5 – equivalent to driving your loaded Prius from San Francisco to Los Angeles on under four gallons of fuel.  Resurrected as the HY4 and flown on gaseous hydrogen, the craft has been reconfigured to fly on liquid hydrogen, expanding its range significantly. According to the HEAVEN program, “The hydrogen-electric ‘HY4’ demonstrator aircraft took off from Maribor, Slovenia, and saw safe and efficient operation throughout multiple flight tests.”  Announced September 7, these were the first piloted flights of a liquid hydrogen fueled aircraft.  Four flights, including one that lasted over three hours, “Lay the foundation for long-range, emissions-free flight, with liquid hydrogen doubling the range of the HY4 aircraft to 1,500[kilometers], compared to …

ZeroAvia Counts on Hydrogen

Dean Sigler Electric Powerplants, Hydrogen Fuel, Sustainable Aviation 1 Comment

Tucked away in the quiet little airport at Hollister, California, ZeroAvia has stealthily been developing a hydrogen-powered Piper Malibu, and flying it for the last six months.  It sounds like a regular aircraft taking off and passing overhead, even with its two 130 kilowatt (174.26 horsepower) electric motors. ZeroAvia claims 275 kW (369 hp) for the pair.  From the videos, propeller noise seems to be much the same as a conventional, internal-combustion powered Malibu, but lacks the added noise of the engine.  Piper M-series aircraft are normally powered by a Teledyne Continental Motors TSIO-520BE engine rated at 310 hp (230 kW). Valery Miftakhov, ZeroAvia’s founder and CEO announced, “Right now we have an aircraft that’s six seats and 2 tons as an R&D demonstrator. Next year we’ll have a 20-seat aircraft and we’ll submit the design for [Federal Aviation Administration (FAA)] certification.  That’s what drives the 2022, 2023 timeline. At that point, we’re expecting to have certification and put the …

The HY4 Will Be Part of a Bigger Plan

Dean Sigler Electric Powerplants, Hydrogen Fuel, Sustainable Aviation Leave a Comment

As part of a planned network of hydrogen-fueled Air Taxis, DLR’s HY4 four-seat airplane will initially land at one of 60 fields in Germany outfitted to supply its unique needs.  These fields will have hydrogen storage and fueling systems for ground transportation, making for a large web of clean transportation by air and land. With various car manufacturers promoting their hydrogen vehicles, it would be easy to see hydrogen aircraft landing, passengers departing in H2-powered cars, and even hardy explorers pedaling to and from the airport on their H2 bikes.  One bicycle maker is planning to be part of the 60-airport plan. The Linde Group showed off its innovative pedelec (“pedal electric cycle”) this week.  Instead of a battery, it gets power assistance from a compact fuel cell which generates electric power from hydrogen and oxygen taken from the surrounding air.  The “highly efficient and zero-emissions drive system supports assisted pedaling over a range in excess of 100 kilometers with …