H2Fly reports successful on-ground tests of liquid hydrogen tank

H2Fly has successfully passed liquid hydrogen on-ground filling tests with its newly developed liquid hydrogen tank that has been integrated into its HY4 aircraft.

The efforts are part of the European project Heaven, a consortium of five partners to demonstrate the feasibility of using liquid, cryogenic hydrogen-powered fuel cell powertrain in aircraft, led by Stuttgart-based H2Fly.

The new liquid hydrogen storage system is designed and supplied by project partner Air Liquide based on H2Fly’s requirements. The filling procedure took place in preparation for the forthcoming coupling tests in which the liquid hydrogen storage system will be coupled to the fuel cell system to form a complete hydrogen-electric powertrain. H2Fly led the test campaign on Air Liquide’s Campus Technologies Grenoble, in Sassenage, France.

Professor Dr. Josef Kallo, co-founder and CEO of H2Fly said: “The successful on-ground filling tests today, mark the next milestone in our pursuit to doubling the range of our HY4 aircraft. It is a critical step for our upcoming flight test campaign this summer, which will demonstrate the feasibility of liquid hydrogen as a fuel for medium and long-haul flight.”

This filling milestone follows the announcement in November last year that H2Fly had started the mechanical integration of Air Liquide’s liquid hydrogen tank into its fuel cell-powered aircraft. Now for more than a decade, and with a first flight in 2016, H2Fly has been researching, testing, and refining development of its four-seat HY4. Last year, the OEM completed a cross-country flight, from Stuttgart to Friedrichshafen, covering 77 miles. Also last year, H2Fly set what is believed to be a world altitude record fora hydrogen aircraft, flying at 7,230 feet.