Photo: Universal Hydrogen
The Mojave Air & Space Port is closely linked to pioneering aircraft and groundbreaking flights. It's been a hub for innovation since 1935 and will continue on the same path. In line with the current focus on zero-emission alternatives, this historic facility has become the flight test center of a Californian startup betting on hydrogen.
In addition to SAF (sustainable aviation fuel), hydrogen retrofitting is seen as one of the fastest and most efficient ways to reduce emission levels for existing aircraft fleets. ZeroAvia is perhaps the main name associated with large-scale hydrogen projects in aviation, but the California-based Universal Hydrogen is not too far either.
Both startups share the vision of hydrogen-powered regional aviation based on retrofitted narrow-body/single-aisle airplanes. They're not building new types of aircraft from scratch but developing certified powertrain conversion kits that can be compatible with a large number of current commercial airliners.
Universal Hydrogen is currently amidst a complex, two-year flight test campaign. It kicked things off earlier this year with four successful flight tests using a modified Dash-8 (a 40-seat regional airliner). During the second flight, the converted aircraft managed to fly for 30 minutes, reaching 5,000 feet (1,524 meters) in altitude. By the fourth flight, that altitude had doubled.
The most recent flight test is a major milestone in more than one way. It was the first flight of the modified Dash-8 to the Mojave Desert. It marked the beginning of a new phase for Universal Hydrogen, where all flight test activities were moved to Mojave, and a new era of hydrogen-based tests for the Mojave Air & Space Port. Most importantly, it set the record for the longest flight by a hydrogen fuel cell powertrain.
It was a ferry flight for the Dash-8, meaning it moved to its new location for future tests, the Mojave Air & Space Port. It was powered by Universal Hydrogen's fuel cell powertrain only on one side. It took off from Moses Lake, Washington, making four stops in Oregon and California.
The Californian startup explained that the hydrogen powertrain was fully used at each take-off along this journey from Washington to Mojave. On the first three legs of the flight, the hydrogen engine's power was reduced (throttled down) after take-off.
During the final flight segment, it was used for the entire time. Ultimately, it all added up to a flight distance of more than 180 nautical miles (333 km) and a total time of more than one hour. According to Universal Hydrogen, this equaled the longest hydrogen-powered flight time.
The modified Dash-8 with a funny name (Lightning McClean) will now permanently reside at the Mojave Air & Space Port, where it will continue the flight test campaign. The Californian startup hopes to get its fuel cell powertrain certified and ready for commercial service by 2025.
Both startups share the vision of hydrogen-powered regional aviation based on retrofitted narrow-body/single-aisle airplanes. They're not building new types of aircraft from scratch but developing certified powertrain conversion kits that can be compatible with a large number of current commercial airliners.
Universal Hydrogen is currently amidst a complex, two-year flight test campaign. It kicked things off earlier this year with four successful flight tests using a modified Dash-8 (a 40-seat regional airliner). During the second flight, the converted aircraft managed to fly for 30 minutes, reaching 5,000 feet (1,524 meters) in altitude. By the fourth flight, that altitude had doubled.
The most recent flight test is a major milestone in more than one way. It was the first flight of the modified Dash-8 to the Mojave Desert. It marked the beginning of a new phase for Universal Hydrogen, where all flight test activities were moved to Mojave, and a new era of hydrogen-based tests for the Mojave Air & Space Port. Most importantly, it set the record for the longest flight by a hydrogen fuel cell powertrain.
It was a ferry flight for the Dash-8, meaning it moved to its new location for future tests, the Mojave Air & Space Port. It was powered by Universal Hydrogen's fuel cell powertrain only on one side. It took off from Moses Lake, Washington, making four stops in Oregon and California.
The Californian startup explained that the hydrogen powertrain was fully used at each take-off along this journey from Washington to Mojave. On the first three legs of the flight, the hydrogen engine's power was reduced (throttled down) after take-off.
During the final flight segment, it was used for the entire time. Ultimately, it all added up to a flight distance of more than 180 nautical miles (333 km) and a total time of more than one hour. According to Universal Hydrogen, this equaled the longest hydrogen-powered flight time.
The modified Dash-8 with a funny name (Lightning McClean) will now permanently reside at the Mojave Air & Space Port, where it will continue the flight test campaign. The Californian startup hopes to get its fuel cell powertrain certified and ready for commercial service by 2025.
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