Beyond Aero has marked a significant milestone by conducting France’s inaugural manned flight powered entirely by hydrogen-electric technology in February 2024.
The flight, commanded by the skilled pilot Paul Prudent, took place aboard the Blériot prototype, named in homage to the renowned French aviator Louis Blériot, famous for his historic airplane voyage across the English Channel. This aircraft is a transformation of a ULA aircraft model G1 SPYL-XL, showcasing a propulsion system that operates on 100% hydrogen-electric power, propelling a single propeller.
The innovative powertrain, revealed at the Paris Air Show in June, presents an unmatched hybridization ratio: utilizing two-thirds of its power from a hydrogen fuel cell and the remaining third from batteries. Commencing in January, the flight testing initiative was carried out at the Gap-Tallard airfield in the skies of Southern France. The Beyond Aero team successfully executed ten takeoffs, including two full flights, achieving an altitude of 2,300 feet above sea level with a climbing speed of 110 km/h.
The Blériot prototype’s operations rely on 1.2 kg of gaseous hydrogen stored in three tanks at 340 bar, generating a peak electrical power of 85 kW. This accomplishment was a result of an intensive three-month ground testing campaign that focused on validating the powertrain’s reliability, culminating in successful fixed-point tests at 170 kg thrust and verified rolling tests.
By accomplishing France’s pioneering manned hydrogen-electric flight, Beyond Aero has substantiated the viability of its initial demonstrator. This successful flight test campaign highlights the manufacturer’s powertrain architecture’s feasibility, with the aim of enabling the creation of the first electric business aircraft designed for hydrogen propulsion within the decade.
