ZeroAvia has flown the largest aircraft in the world to be powered by a hydrogen-electric propulsion system – a 19-seat Dornier 228 testbed aircraft, retrofitted with a full-size prototype hydrogen-electric powertrain on the left wing of the aircraft.
The flight took place from the company’s base at Cotswold Airport in Gloucestershire, UK, and lasted 10 minutes. The aircraft completed taxi, take-off, a full pattern circuit, and landing.
Today, #ZeroAvia made #aviation history. The 19-seat Dornier 228 testbed #aircraft took to the skies above England’s Cotswolds with the leftside propeller powered by a #hydrogen-electric powertrain. A huge step for #zeroemission aviation. Read more: https://t.co/dqETTlmbmp pic.twitter.com/dgaCDw4Cfv
— ZeroAvia (@ZeroAvia) January 19, 2023
The flight is part of the HyFlyer II project, a R&D programme backed by the UK Government, which targets development of a 600kW powertrain to support 9-19 seat aircraft worldwide with zero-emission flight.
The twin-engine Do228 was retrofitted to incorporate ZeroAvia’s hydrogen-electric engine on its left wing, which then operated alongside a single Honeywell TPE-331 stock engine on the right.
ZeroAvia said all systems performed as expected. The aim is for a certifiable configuration to be finalised and submitted in 2023.
The flight test campaign is being conducted under a full Part 21 flight permit with the UK CAA, a more stringent set of requirements compared to the E-Conditions framework ZeroAvia used for its 6-seat prototype test flights in the past
Val Miftakhov, founder and CEO of ZeroAvia said, “This is a major moment, not just for ZeroAvia, but for the aviation industry as a whole, as it shows that true zero-emission commercial flight is only a few years away.
“The first flight of our 19-seat aircraft shows just how scalable our technology is and highlights the rapid progress of zero-emission propulsion. This is only the beginning – we are building the future of sustainable, zero climate impact aviation.
Secretary of State for Business, Grant Shapps, said, “Today’s flight is a hugely exciting vision of the future – guilt-free flying and a big step forward for zero-emission air travel. It also demonstrates how government funding for projects like these is translating into net zero growth.”
