Universal Hydrogen has completed the first flight of a 40 seat regional aeroplane powered by hydrogen fuel cell power. The ATR 72 regional aircraft was converted to run on hydrogen. One of the aircraft’s turbine engines was replaced with a megawatt class fuel cell electric powertrain from Universal Hydrogen using technology from Plug Power and MagniX.
source.image: Global Update
The other conventional engine was not replaced for the safety of the flight.The airplane, nicknamed Lightning McClean, took off at 8:41am PST from Grant County International Airport (KMWH) and flew for 15 minutes, reaching an altitude of 3,500 MSL.
source.image: Global Update
Universal Hydrogen’s powertrain was built around Plug Power’s ProGen family of fuel cells specially modified for aviation use. Rather than using a battery, the fuel cells drive a modified magni 650 electric propulsion unit directly, reducing weight and cost.
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One of the unique aspects of the design is that the powertrain does not use a battery—the fuel cells drive the electric motor directly—drastically reducing weight and cost.
Seattle-based AeroTEC assisted with engineering efforts, including design of the modified nacelle structure, aircraft systems design and integration, as well as aircraft modifications and installation of the Universal Hydrogen powertrain onto the flight test aircraft, accomplished in less than 12 months.Universal Hydrogen is building a hydrogen logistics network to fuel the future of aviation, today.
