H2FLY, a German hydrogen electric aviation technology company, has achieved a significant milestone by successfully piloting a flight of an electric aircraft powered by liquid hydrogen. This achievement is being hailed as a world’s first and opens up new opportunities for zero-emission long-distance flights.
H2FLY, based in Stuttgart, Germany, specializes in developing hydrogen electric aviation technology, specifically liquid hydrogen. The company aims to deliver a qualified propulsion system for hydrogen-powered aircraft to the market. H2FLY is supported by Joby Aviation, an electric vertical takeoff and landing (eVTOL) developer that acquired H2FLY in 2021.
H2FLY has already achieved several firsts compared to other zero-emission aviation companies. Its HY4 hydrogen electric aircraft completed its maiden flight in 2016 and set a world record in 2022 by flying above 7,000 feet during a 77-mile journey across Germany.
Following nearly a decade of experience in hydrogen aviation, H2FLY has gained financial support from multiple German ministries and Project HEAVEN, a consortium of aviation specialists supported by the EU government. Project HEAVEN aims to demonstrate the feasibility of using liquid cryogenic hydrogen in aircraft.
In its most recent flight test campaign, H2FLY conducted four separate flights with the HY4 demonstrator electric aircraft, which was piloted by a human for the first time. What sets this achievement apart is that the aircraft was powered by cryogenically stored liquid hydrogen (LH2) instead of pressurized gaseous hydrogen storage (GH2). LH2 allows for significantly lighter tank weight and volume, potentially doubling the maximum range of the HY4 aircraft from 750 km (466 miles) to 1,500 km (932 miles).
H2FLY’s success in piloting an electric aircraft powered by liquid hydrogen is seen as a groundbreaking moment for hydrogen-based aviation. The company is now focused on scaling up its technology for regional aircraft and other applications, with the aim of decarbonizing commercial aviation. H2FLY is also developing its new H2F-175 fuel cell systems, expected to power aircraft to their full range at altitudes of up to 27,000 feet. This work will take place at H2FLY’s Hydrogen Aviation Center at Stuttgart Airport, set to open next year.