Hydrogen is being proposed as an emissions-free fuel that could help clean up aviation’s reputation as a major carbon emitter. But many aviation pundits see hydrogen as a pipe dream that is at least 15 or 20 years from reality.
Two companies recently announced a partnership to develop an electric helicopter that would make its first flight in 2023. Piasecki Aircraft Corp. said it plans to develop the Piasecki eVTOL PA-890 using HyPoint’s hydrogen fuel-cell system.“Initial lab testing funded by Piasecki last winter demonstrated the technical viability of HyPoint’s hydrogen fuel-cell system,” said CEO John Piasecki, noting it would be the first manned hydrogen-powered helicopter. “Success will pave the way for collaboration with other eVTOL OEMs with different platform sizes to ensure broad applications of this technology.”
Hydrogen-powered aircraft have been limited to a few experimental designs, including ZeroAvia, which became the first company to successfully complete a hydrogen-electric passenger flight on a modified Piper M-Class aircraft. A number of aircraft designers, including Alaka’i Technologies, Bartini, Gigajoule Jug Consulting, Urban Aeronautics and Happy Takeoff, also see hydrogen power as being critical for the eVTOL segment - link - Michael Verdon - link - more like this - link
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