Close Menu
Green Hydrogen NewsGreen Hydrogen News
    LinkedIn X (Twitter) YouTube Facebook
    Trending
    • Bureau Veritas Unveils Rules for Safe Hydrogen Ship Integration
    • EU Paves the Way for Hydrogen in Standardizing Gas Market
    • HZwo’s Hydrogen Innovation Center (HIC) in Limbo Amid Budget Freeze
    • EU Champions Monumental 10GW Hydrogen Project from Brazil to Croatia
    • Italgas’s Nimbus Smart Meter Redefines Hydrogen Measurement
    • Wolftank Group to Pave the Way for Hydrogen Train Refueling in Northern Italy
    • GHT and ETG Forge Alliance for Climate-Neutral Hydrogen
    • EU-Catalyst Partnership Backs Ørsted’s FlagshipONE Project
    LinkedIn X (Twitter) YouTube Facebook
    Green Hydrogen NewsGreen Hydrogen News
    • NEWS
      • Authorities
      • Blitz
      • Breaking News
      • Finance
      • Jobs
      • H2 Plant
      • Politics
      • Press Release
      • Sponsored
      • Stock
      • Tenders
      • Video
    • HYDROGEN
      • Aviation
      • Electrolyzers
      • Fuel Cells
      • Green Hydrogen
      • Hydrail
      • Innovation
      • Pipelines
      • Projects
      • Stations
      • Storage
      • Technology
      • Vehicles
    • SPOTLIGHT
      • Analysis
      • Interviews
      • Podcast
      • Research
      • Reviews
      • Specials
      • Webinars
    • REGIONAL
      • Africa
      • Americas
      • Asia
      • Europe
      • Middle east
      • Pacific
    • CONTACT
    • ADVERTIZE
    • SUBSCRIBE
    Green Hydrogen NewsGreen Hydrogen News
    Home Home - Aviation
    Green Hydrogen H2 News

    Universal Hydrogen wraps up first flight of hydrogen regional airliner

    Anela DoksoBy Anela Dokso03/03/20233 Mins Read
    Share
    LinkedIn Twitter Facebook Email WhatsApp Telegram

    A 40-passenger small airplane operated by Universal Hydrogen used hydrogen fuel cells for propulsion. From Grant County International Airport (KMWH), the aircraft, known as Lightning McClean, took off and made a 15-minute flight to a height of 3,500 MSL.

    The first of a two-year flight test campaign that will culminate in the introduction of hydrogen-powered ATR 72 regional aircraft into passenger service in 2025 was undertaken under the auspices of an FAA Special Airworthiness Certificate. Witnessing the historic flight were representatives from Connect Airlines and Amelia, the hydrogen aircraft’s US and European launch customers, respectively. The company’s order book is expanding quickly; as of now, it includes 247 aircraft conversions from 16 customers across the globe, with a backlog of conversions totaling over $1 billion and fuel services totaling over $2 billion over the company’s first 10 years of existence.

    “Today will go down in the history books as the true start to the decarbonization of the global airline industry and we at Connect Airlines are extremely proud of the role that we, as the first US operator, will play in leading the way with Universal Hydrogen,” said John Thomas, CEO of Connect Airlines. 

    With purchase rights for an additional 25 aircraft, Connect, which will launch regional turboprop service this spring, has signed a first-position US order with Universal Hydrogen to convert 75 ATR 72-600 regional aircraft to hydrogen powertrains. In 2025, deliveries will begin.

    The aircraft’s initial test flight used a fuel cell-electric, megawatt-class powertrain from Universal Hydrogen in place of one of the turbine engines. For the sake of flying safety, the other engine was left as-is. Alex Kroll, the company’s chief test pilot and a seasoned former U.S. Air Force test pilot, piloted the flight.

    The company’s powertrain is based on the ProGen family of fuel cells from Plug Power, which have been specially developed for use in aviation. The powertrain’s use of fuel cells instead of batteries to directly drive the electric motor, which substantially reduces weight and cost, is one of the design’s distinctive features. Everett-based magniX provided the motor, a modified magni650 electric propulsion unit, and power electronics. The modified nacelle structure, aircraft system design and integration, aircraft modifications, and the installation of the Universal Hydrogen powertrain onto the flying test aircraft, all of which were completed in less than a year, with assistance from Seattle-based AeroTEC.

    The test flight follows the company’s modular hydrogen logistics system’s successful demonstrations at its engineering facility in Toulouse, France, in December 2022.

    With the support of GE Aviation, Airbus Ventures, Toyota Ventures, JetBlue Ventures, American Airlines, as well as some of the biggest green hydrogen producers and top-tier financial investors, the company intends to use its modular logistics network to transition from regional airplanes to larger ones and to hydrogen fuel deliveries for other mobility applications.

    The hydrogen-powered aircraft is not merely a ground-breaking new invention; it is also a representation of optimism and advancement, a light in a dark world.

    Grant County International Airport hydrogen Lightning McClean Universal Hydrogen
    Share. LinkedIn Twitter Facebook Email

    Related Posts

    green hydrogen

    Bureau Veritas Unveils Rules for Safe Hydrogen Ship Integration

    01/12/2023
    European Commission Launches Inaugural €800 Hydrogen Bank Auction

    EU Paves the Way for Hydrogen in Standardizing Gas Market

    01/12/2023
    HZwo's Hydrogen Innovation Center (HIC) in Limbo Amid Budget Freeze

    HZwo’s Hydrogen Innovation Center (HIC) in Limbo Amid Budget Freeze

    01/12/2023
    EU Champions Monumental 10GW Hydrogen Project from Brazil to Croatia

    EU Champions Monumental 10GW Hydrogen Project from Brazil to Croatia

    01/12/2023
    Italgas's Nimbus Smart Meter Redefines Hydrogen Measurement

    Italgas’s Nimbus Smart Meter Redefines Hydrogen Measurement

    01/12/2023
    Wolftank Group to Pave the Way for Hydrogen Train Refueling in Northern Italy

    Wolftank Group to Pave the Way for Hydrogen Train Refueling in Northern Italy

    01/12/2023
    green hydrogen

    Bureau Veritas Unveils Rules for Safe Hydrogen Ship Integration

    01/12/2023
    European Commission Launches Inaugural €800 Hydrogen Bank Auction

    EU Paves the Way for Hydrogen in Standardizing Gas Market

    01/12/2023
    HZwo's Hydrogen Innovation Center (HIC) in Limbo Amid Budget Freeze

    HZwo’s Hydrogen Innovation Center (HIC) in Limbo Amid Budget Freeze

    01/12/2023
    EU Champions Monumental 10GW Hydrogen Project from Brazil to Croatia

    EU Champions Monumental 10GW Hydrogen Project from Brazil to Croatia

    01/12/2023

    Subscribe to Updates

    Get the latest news from the hydrogen market subscribe to our newsletter.

    LinkedIn X (Twitter) Facebook YouTube

    News

    • Inteviews
    • Webinars
    • Hydrogen
    • Spotlight
    • Regional

    Company

    • Information
    • Advertising
    • Media Kits
    • Contact Info
    • GDPR Policy

    Subscriptions

    • Subscribe
    • Newsletters
    • Sponsored News

    Subscribe to Updates

    Get the latest news from EnergyNewsBiz about hydrogen.

    © 2023 EnergyNews.biz
    • Privacy Policy
    • Terms
    • Accessibility

    Type above and press Enter to search. Press Esc to cancel.

    Go to mobile version