World’s largest hydrogen-powered aircraft takes off

U.K.-based ZeroAvia last week reached a milestone toward a future of sustainable aviation when its experimental hydrogen-electric-driven Dornier 228 aircraft lifted off the runway at Cotswold Airport (GBA) in the U.K. for the first time on a 10-minute test flight. The first flight will be followed by a test regiment that includes 10 to 20 flights in the next few weeks, Dominic Weeks, ZeroAvia’s Head of External Affairs & Marketing, told Air Cargo Next. [caption id="attachment_57133757" align="alignright" width="460"] The 1985-vintage Dornier 228 was retrofitted to use ZeroAvia's experimental hydrogen-electric powertrain. (Photo/ZeroAvia)[/caption] The 1985-vintage Dornier 228 (8046) was retrofitted by ZeroAvia, which removed the aircraft's port Honeywell TPE331-10 engine that provided 940 shaft horsepower with one of ZeroAvia’s experimental hydrogen-electric powertrains comprised of two fuel-cell stacks and lithium-ion battery packs. “We absolutely see these first ZA600 engines being used in cargo operations as a large market,” Weeks told Air Cargo Next . “Many of the airframes we are targeting first for retrofit and line-fit are used prevalently in airfreight.” The Dornier 228 was modified to include hydrogen tanks and fuel-cell power-generation systems housed inside the cabin. In a commercial configuration, external hydrogen tanks would be used, according to a statement by ZeroAvia. The first flight was part of ZeroAvia’s government-backed HyFlyer II project, which aims to develop a 600-kilowatt (804 horsepower) engine. ZeroAvia hopes to certify its technology by 2025, according to the company. Future Cargo Adaptation In September 2022, Air Cargo Next 's sister publication Cargo Facts reported that ZeroAvia partnered with Textron Aviation to produce a hydrogen-powered Cessna 208B freighter, for which it hopes to earn a supplemental type certificate (STC) in 2025. The Cessna 208B is used for a number of Fedex Feeder carriers and autonomous aircraft developers . AirDialog and parent Reliable Robotics are among those flying FedEx Feeder airline service to develop FAA Part 135 experience for eventual certification while operating the Cessna 208. “The [automation and new propulsion] technologies are highly complementary, and the programs can be pursued separately and in parallel with a later integration step when both programs reach certification,” Reliable Robotics told Cargo Facts . Universal Hydrogen and Airbus are also developing hydrogen power for aircraft engines, and this has generated interest from Ireland-based ASL Aviation Holdings, which agreed to purchase ten hydrogen conversion kits for its ATR 72Fs and use one of its own ATR 72Fs as the certification prototype. Cargo Facts EMEA, the essential event for stakeholders in Europe, the Middle East and Africa, will take place live Feb. 6-8 in Dubai. Register today.

World’s largest hydrogen-powered aircraft takes off

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