German-based H2FLY has announced success from a liquid hydrogen filling test of its HY4 hydrogen-electric aircraft. The on-ground test at Air Liquide’s Campus Technologies Grenoble in France saw liquid hydrogen fill the aircraft’s new liquid hydrogen storage system, designed and supplied by Air Liquide. Coming as a precursor to future tests in which the storage system will be coupled with H2FLY’s fuel cell system to form a complete hydrogen-electric powertrain, the test comes as a milestone in the steps to achieving hydrogen-powered flight for the Stuttgart company.

In July last year (2022), the company announced it would integrate a liquid hydrogen storage system in the aircraft with hopes to be able to double the range of the HY4 aircraft. The successful test is part of Project Heaven, funded by the Clean Hydrogen Partnership and led by H2FLY, which aims to design, develop and integrate a hydrogen fuel cell and cryogenic-based powertrain into existing aircraft.

“The successful on-ground filling test marks the next milestone in our pursuit to double the range of our HY4 aircraft,” said Prof. Dr. Josef Kallo, co-founder and CEO of H2FLY. “It is a critical step for our upcoming test campaign this summer, which will demonstrate the feasibility of liquid hydrogen as a fuel for medium and long-haul flight.”

Image: H2FLY announces liquid hydrogen filling success. Credit: H2Fly

Source: H2View