The FAA has given experimental certification of the Dash-300 and this allowed Universal Hydrogen with the permission to take off. Now, the company achieved a successful flight of the hydrogen electric plane, as reported by Electrek.
The plane took off in Grant County in Washington and flew for 15 minutes. One of its engines was replaced with their fuel cell-electric powertrain, while the other remained a standard engine to ensure plane and pilot safety.
The Start of A Two-Year Testing Program
Following the successful first flight, this marks as the beginning of Universal Hydrogen's two-year testing program that will allow them to get their full certification for hydrogen electric passenger flights using ATR 72 planes by 2025.
This also marks the Dash-300 flying test bed as the biggest hydrogen electric plane to take flight. Thus, this opens the path for more hydrogen electric conversions of existing aircraft.
The planes are converted to hydrogen with the use of an aftermarket retrofit conversion kit. This allows them to tackle the existing fleet instead of developing a brand new airplane.
Also read: Airbus' Zero Emission Development Centre Building Hydrogen Planes on Cryogenic Fuel Research
Hydrogen in Electric Planes
Hydrogen fuel has the potential to be a game-changer in the aviation industry. It has the potential to reduce emissions and increase flight time.
Hydrogen is a clean-burning fuel and its combustion produces only heat and water vapor. It is also a renewable energy source that can be produced from natural resources such as water and biomass.
Hydrogen fuel cells can also be used to power electric planes. The fuel cells convert hydrogen into electricity, which is then used to power an electric motor. This is a much more efficient way of powering an aircraft than using traditional jet fuel, as it produces no emissions.
Universal Hydrogen's flight test is a major step towards the adoption of hydrogen fuel in the aviation industry. This could potentially revolutionize the airline industry and reduce emissions significantly.
The potential of hydrogen-powered aircraft is immense. The fuel cells used to power electric planes can be recharged in a matter of minutes, allowing for longer flight times and greater range than traditional jet fuels. This could open up the possibility of long-distance flights powered solely by renewable energy sources such as wind or solar.
In addition, hydrogen fuel has the potential to reduce noise pollution from airports significantly compared with traditional jet engines. Hydrogen fuel cell technology produces very little noise when compared to conventional combustion engines - this means that it would not only benefit passengers but also those living near airports who are often subjected to high levels of noise pollution due to air traffic overhead.
The possibilities presented by using hydrogen in aviation extend beyond just reducing emissions and increasing efficiency; they have the potential revolutionize how we travel around our planet both safely and sustainably!
