The largest hydrogen aircraft to date completes short test flight

The largest hydrogen aircraft to date has completed its first test flight. The flight was initiated by the start-up Universal Hydrogen and lasted fifteen minutes. This modified Dash-8 offers space for forty passengers.

For the flight, one of the two turbine engines was replaced by a hydrogen fuel cell drivetrain. The other, regular fossil engine was still used ‘just to be on the safe side’, already says Universal Hydrogen that its use has been reduced during the second round of flights. The CEO of the start-up claims that only green hydrogen was used. The 15-minute flight took place in Washington and the Dash-8 managed to reach an altitude of 3500 MSL.

No battery is used for the hydrogen drivetrain, instead the fuel cells directly drive the Magni650 electric motor. According to Universal Hydrogen, this reduces costs and weight. In addition to being more sustainable, the start-up also claims that a hydrogen powertrain produces much less noise and vibration than a conventional turbine engine.

Universal Hydrogen plans to deliver the first fuel cell conversion kits to customers in 2025. The first customer will be the American airline Connect Airlines, which has placed orders to convert 75 ATR 72-600 aircraft. These aircraft can accommodate 78 passengers.

The previous record for the largest flying hydrogen plane was held by ZeroAvia, which made a ten-minute flight in December with a 19-seater. This aircraft also only partly flew on hydrogen. ZeroAvia plans to fly commercial routes in 2025 and wants to fly a hydrogen aircraft with 40 to 80 passengers in 2027.

Universal Hydrogen’s hydrogen plane