By Skies Magazine | October 2, 2023 Estimated reading time 5 minutes, 5 seconds.
Universal Hydrogen Co. has kicked off a two-year flight test and maturation campaign with a Dash 8-300 aircraft featuring the company’s conversion kit that allows existing regional aircraft to fly on hydrogen.
The campaign launch, held at the Mojave Air & Space Port, follows the company’s historic first flight of the zero-emission Dash 8 — described as the world’s largest hydrogen fuel cell-powered airplane — which took place at Grant County International Airport in March of this year. The aircraft was equipped with one conventional turboprop engine and one magni650 electric propulsion unit (EPU), which received electricity from a hydrogen fuel cell system.
This achievement was followed by the successful June 2023 ferry flight of the aircraft from Moses Lake, Wash., to Mojave, Calif., which Universal Hydrogen announced as the location of its new flight test centre. The ferry flight also “demonstrated an expanded operating envelope for the hydrogen fuel cell powertrain,” the company said in a press release. As of late September, Universal Hydrogen had completed 10 test flights, with the hope of reaching commercial entry into service by 2026.
The recent flight that kicked off Universal Hydrogen’s two-year flight test campaign lasted approximately 20 minutes and demonstrated the aircraft’s capabilities — the flaps and landing gear were retracted and the airplane soared to 5,000 feet above sea level.
The aircraft performed several passes over the airport with the conventional engine throttled back and the hydrogen powertrain at maximum power — showcasing the potential for noise reduction that fuel cell-electric propulsion promises. The hydrogen fuel cell powertrain was operated at maximum power during takeoff and operated throughout the flight.
According to the company, the flight test campaign will focus on optimizing the performance of the hydrogen fuel cell powertrain. It will also introduce new hardware, including a custom-developed, aviation-grade turbocompressor, enabling flights at altitudes up to 25,000 feet above sea level (the operating ceiling of the Dash 8). Additionally, Universal Hydrogen will introduce its patented modular liquid hydrogen fuel storage system, and initiate certification testing to prove that the production configuration of the aircraft meets all FAA-mandated airworthiness and safety requirements.
Angelina Galiteva, CEO of the Alliance for Renewable Clean Hydrogen Energy Systems (ARCHES), commented: “It’s truly exciting to see Universal Hydrogen’s zero-emission plane flying over California’s skies. It’s a great example of how California-based companies like Universal Hydrogen are working to alleviate the impacts of climate change and improve local air quality, all while bringing tangible community benefits like good paying jobs and technological innovation.”
Universal Hydrogen’s choice of the Mojave Air & Space Port for its aircraft and flight test base aligns with its strategy to expand its presence in California. The company, headquartered in Hawthorne, Calif., aims to tap into the engineering talent pool in Los Angeles and Mojave.
“We are excited to work with Universal Hydrogen to pave the way to reducing aircraft emissions using a sustainable, green, and increasingly available fuel — hydrogen!” said Tim Reid, general manager of Mojave Air & Space Port. “Their innovative technology, paired with the use of existing regional aircraft, will revolutionize the industry, leading to a systematic, affordable, and rapid transition to zero-emission transportation.”
Universal Hydrogen is currently working with Air New Zealand to help the airline replace its Q300 regional turboprop fleet with a lower emission fleet starting in 2030. Kiri Hannifin, the airline’s chief sustainability officer, said: “We’re incredibly encouraged by [Universal Hydrogen’s] progress and the milestones achieved to date. We’ll be watching closely as they continue their journey towards certification and entry to service.”
