The first hydrogen-powered Dash 8 takes to the air

The first take-off of the Universal Hydrogen Dash 8-300
  • Reading Time:4Minutes

Universal Hydrogen, an American start-up, has successfully conducted a test flight of its hydrogen fuel cell-powered De Havilland Canada Dash 8-300 aircraft, named “Lightning McClean.” The aircraft took off from Grant County International Airport near Moses Lake and reached an altitude of 1,000 meters during the 15-minute test flight.

related articles


The Dash 8-300 is equipped with a Pratt & Whitney Canada PW123 engine and a Magni650 power plant, which is manufactured by the Everett-based MagniX. The hydrogen fuel cells directly power the aircraft’s electric motors, bypassing the need to recharge batteries.

The use of hydrogen fuel cells as an energy source for aircraft has been gaining popularity in recent years, as it offers a more sustainable alternative to traditional fossil fuels. Hydrogen fuel cells convert hydrogen gas into electricity through a chemical reaction, producing water and heat as byproducts. This process emits no greenhouse gases, making it an environmentally friendly option.

The first take-off of the Universal Hydrogen Dash 8-300
The first take-off of the Universal Hydrogen Dash 8-300

According to the International Energy Agency (IEA), the aviation industry accounts for approximately 2.5% of global greenhouse gas emissions. As a result, the industry has been exploring various ways to reduce its carbon footprint, including the adoption of alternative fuel sources such as hydrogen.

Despite the promising potential of hydrogen fuel cell technology, there are some challenges that need to be addressed. For example, the storage and transportation of hydrogen require significant infrastructure investment. Additionally, the production of hydrogen itself can be carbon-intensive if not produced through renewable energy sources.

In conclusion, the successful test flight of the “Lightning McClean” aircraft using hydrogen fuel cells is a significant step forward in the aviation industry’s efforts to reduce its carbon footprint. However, more research and development are needed to address the challenges associated with hydrogen fuel cell technology to make it a viable and sustainable alternative to traditional fossil fuels.

FAA Certifies World’s Largest Hydrogen-Powered Aircraft as 14 Companies Order Conversion of ATR 72s

The aviation industry’s transition to more sustainable fuels has taken another step forward, with the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) granting a special airworthiness certificate to the world’s largest hydrogen-powered aircraft. The aircraft is part of a program to convert ATR 72s to use hydrogen fuel cells as their primary power source, with the goal of having them in commercial service by 2025.

During the test flights, pilots were able to switch to conventional engines during the second lap over the airport, effectively flying on hydrogen power alone. They also reported experiencing significantly less noise and vibration with the fuel cell power train.

The program has already attracted significant interest, with 14 companies ordering the conversion of their ATR 72s, bringing the total number of aircraft to 247 at a cost of USD 1 billion. The launch carriers for the type in the United States and Europe, Connect Airlines and Amelia, respectively, were present at the first take-off along with representatives from other companies.

The use of hydrogen fuel cells as an energy source for aircraft has several advantages. It offers a more sustainable alternative to traditional fossil fuels, emitting no greenhouse gases, and significantly reducing noise and vibration. However, as mentioned earlier, there are challenges that need to be addressed, such as the storage and transportation of hydrogen and the carbon-intensive production of hydrogen.

The aviation industry accounts for approximately 2.5% of global greenhouse gas emissions, and the adoption of alternative fuel sources such as hydrogen is essential to reduce its carbon footprint. The success of the program to convert ATR 72s to use hydrogen fuel cells is a significant step forward in achieving this goal.

Source: businesswire.com

Recent article

EVTOL & VTOL News & Articles

The flying ambulance arrives at lightning speed

EVTOL & VTOL News & Articles

The electric car revolution could continue in the air

EVTOL & VTOL News & Articles

Unmanned aerial taxis flew in a unique formation

Electric airplane News & Articles

NASA’s Innovations: Soaring into an Electrified Flight Future

EVTOL & VTOL News & Articles

Could eVTOLs and Air Taxis Replace Public Transport ?

Additional aircraft News & Articles

The Morphobot: An Innovation in Multimodal Robotics

News & Articles Points of interest

The Dawn of AI Air Travel: Airbus and its Vision for Autonomy

Air taxi News & Articles

Volocopter’s High-Flying Ambitions for the Olympics

News & Articles Propulsion-Fuel

The Horizon of Aviation: Airbus’ Vision for 2035 and Beyond

EVTOL & VTOL News & Articles

A Shift in Aviation Licensing and Training

Drones News & Articles

Russia’s Path to Drone Supremacy

Air taxi News & Articles

Israel’s Pioneering Venture into Drone Transport

Air taxi News & Articles

More efficient air taxis in the future

Air taxi News & Articles

Testing of perhaps the most promising air taxi begins

Additional aircraft News & Articles

Navigating the Future: Autonomous Helicopters Soar High

EVTOL & VTOL News & Articles

Embracing the Future: Seoul’s Leap into Urban Air Mobility
More articles you may be interested in...

Air taxi News & Articles

The Coming Electric Air Taxi Revolution: Competing with Train Tickets ?

The Dutch company, Electron Aviation, is making a bold promise that is set to disrupt.......... READ MORE

News & Articles Propulsion-Fuel

Unveiling the Whisper of Innovation: CycloTech’s Exploration into CycloRotor Noise Levels

In the fast-paced realm of aeronautical engineering, the introduction of CycloRotors has heralded a paradigm.......... READ MORE

Points of interest

Sailing the Skies in Style: Airbus’s Novel Vision for Air Travel

Navigating the dawn of a fresh chapter in aviation, Airbus recently shared its audacious plans.......... READ MORE

Drones News & Articles

Boosting Agriculture: A Drone Revolution Awaits in Budapest

The stage is set in Hungary, as it stands on the brink of an exciting.......... READ MORE

News & Articles Propulsion-Fuel

Embracing the Future with Rolls-Royce’s Revolutionary UltraFan Engine

Just when you thought the apex of innovation had been reached, Rolls-Royce challenges the notion.......... READ MORE

Air taxi News & Articles

Testing of perhaps the most promising air taxi begins

For some of us, the very idea of an air taxi evokes scenes straight out.......... READ MORE

Additional aircraft News & Articles

Navigating the Future: Autonomous Helicopters Soar High

Unmanned helicopters are no longer a concept in some futuristic Sci-Fi novel. They're here, revolutionizing.......... READ MORE

EVTOL & VTOL News & Articles

Embracing the Future: Seoul’s Leap into Urban Air Mobility

In an audacious move to revolutionize its transport system, Seoul - the bustling South Korean.......... READ MORE