H2FLY, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Joby Aviation, successfully completed of the world’s first piloted flight of a liquid hydrogen-powered electric aircraft. H2FLY, continues to lead the industry on the development and testing of hydrogen aviation propulsion systems. The company completed a series of piloted flights with its HY4 demonstrator aircraft, including one that lasted more than three hours, fitted with a hydrogen-electric fuel cell propulsion system and liquid hydrogen that powered it for the entire flight.
The flights demonstrate the viability of using cryogenically-stored liquid hydrogen instead of gaseous hydrogen, which enables significantly lower tank weights and volume, leading to longer range. The successful installation and demonstration of flight with liquid hydrogen is believed to increase the range of H2FLY’s HY4 demonstrator aircraft from 466 mi (750 km) to 932 mi (1500 km), marking a critical step towards the long-term decarbonization of mid- to long-range aviation.
JoeBen Bevirt, Founder and CEO of Joby Aviation, commented: “H2FLY are pioneers in their field, and we’re proud of them achieving this watershed moment in the use of liquid hydrogen to power aircraft. In the years to come, battery-electric and hydrogen-electric propulsion systems will enable us to build aircraft that are quieter and make mid- to long-range air travel possible with zero emissions. It’s critical we take action now and invest aggressively in these technologies for the health of our planet and future generations to come.”
The successful flights are the culmination of Project HEAVEN, a European-government-supported consortium assembled to demonstrate the feasibility of using liquid hydrogen in aircraft. The consortium is led by H2FLY and includes the partners Air Liquide, Pipistrel Vertical Solutions, the German Aerospace Center (DLR), EKPO Fuel Cell Technologies, and Fundación Ayesa. Following this test flight milestone, H2FLY will increasingly focus on its path to commercialization.
AERO 2027, taking place from April 14-17, 2027, will feature a further developed concept designed to build on the great success of this year’s event. In 2026, 860 exhibitors from 50 countries to...
Kansai International airport (KIX) reaches new milestone in its development with the inauguration of the completed international trade zone. This completion marks the conclusion of the extensive renov...
SD Government, a Gogo company serving the military and government markets, announced today that it has secured a multi-year framework contract from the U.S. Department of Commerce's National...
Affirming Cathay’ ongoing commitment to growing Hong Kong’s connectivity with Belt and Road countries, Cathay Pacific is pleased to announce plans to launch direct flights to Almaty,...
