The largest ZeroAvia Dornier 228 hydrogen airliner made a 10-minute flight (video)
ZeroAvia has taken the world’s largest hydrogen-electric plane into the sky, taking a step forward in sustainable aviation.
The 19-seater Dornier 228 twin-engine aircraft is equipped with a prototype hydrogen-electric propulsion system that runs on ‘compressed hydrogen gas produced by a local electrolyser’. The test configuration included two fuel cell batteries and lithium-ion batteries, which are placed in the test cabin. However, for commercial use, they will be moved to outside storage to make room for seating. In addition, the hydrogen-electric powerplant was combined with a standard Honeywell TPE-331 engine on the starboard wing. It served to provide additional power during takeoff as well as insurance for safety purposes.
The Dornier 228 made a 10-minute flight from Cotswold Airport in Great Britain. It is being developed as part of the HyFlyer II project, a government-funded research and development program aimed at making small passenger aircraft safer for the environment.
ZeroAvia says it intends to certify the technology this year, and plans to launch commercial routes based on it by 2025. The company is also working on a program of power units with a capacity of 2-5 MW, which will allow the technology to be scaled for aircraft with a capacity of up to 90 seats. The goal is to expand production of narrow-body aircraft over the next decade. In addition, Amazon invested in the company as part of its Climate Pledge Fund.
