Photo: Universal Hydrogen
Universal Hydrogen hit a milestone in terms of pre-orders. Also, it launched a two-year flight test campaign on its way to obtaining formal certification for retrofitted aircraft.
America's Aerospace Valley (the Antelope Valley region in southern California) is making way for technologies that will usher in a new era of green flights. One of the most promising ones is a conversion kit for regional aircraft based on a fuel cell electric powertrain paired with innovative hydrogen capsules. The kit's developer, Universal Hydrogen, has secured an impressive number of orders so far for its game-changing solution.
The Californian company recently celebrated the 250th order for its aircraft conversion kit. It's not just a matter of numbers but also an impressive value. The company's current order book is worth more than $1 billion, and that's not all. It also adds $2 billion in fuel services revenue, which the company will get in its first ten years of operation.
That's because Universal Hydrogen doesn't just retrofit existing aircraft but also ensures hydrogen fuel services for each unit. What sets it apart from other hydrogen aviation companies is that the retrofit package also comes with a modular fuel system.
The fuel cell electric powertrain effectively replaces current turboprop engines. So far, it’s been adapted for the ATR72 and the De Havilland Canada Dash-8 regional aircraft. Along with the new powertrain, these airplanes also get modular hydrogen capsules in the rear of the fuselage.
The unique advantage of the Universal Hydrogen capsules is that they can be used with standard cargo handling equipment. This means that the capsules are transported from the production site to the airport and then simply loaded into the aircraft using the existing airport equipment. In other words, there's no need for dedicated infrastructure, which saves a lot of money and time in terms of certification.
The company's next major goal is to obtain the FAA (Federal Aviation Administration) certification for the production configuration of the Dash-8 retrofitted with its conversion kit.
To get there, Universal Hydrogen embarked on a two-year campaign. During this time, it plans to optimize the powertrain further. The improved version will boast new hardware, including a custom-made, aviation-grade turbocompressor. This will enable the retrofitted aircraft to reach flights at 25,000 feet (7,620 meters), which is the Dash-8's operating ceiling.
The inaugural flight for this campaign lasted 20 minutes. The aircraft reached 5,000 feet (1,524 meters) and then made a few passes over the airport. During this time, the fuel cell powertrain was operated at full power in order to measure its exact noise level.
Earlier this year, the Californian company conducted the first flight of a 40-seat aircraft retrofitted with its fuel cell system. The aircraft, nicknamed Lightning McClean, claimed to be the largest airplane to run mainly on hydrogen.
The first ATR 72 aircraft retrofitted with the Universal Hydrogen system are expected to enter commercial service in 2025.
The Californian company recently celebrated the 250th order for its aircraft conversion kit. It's not just a matter of numbers but also an impressive value. The company's current order book is worth more than $1 billion, and that's not all. It also adds $2 billion in fuel services revenue, which the company will get in its first ten years of operation.
That's because Universal Hydrogen doesn't just retrofit existing aircraft but also ensures hydrogen fuel services for each unit. What sets it apart from other hydrogen aviation companies is that the retrofit package also comes with a modular fuel system.
The fuel cell electric powertrain effectively replaces current turboprop engines. So far, it’s been adapted for the ATR72 and the De Havilland Canada Dash-8 regional aircraft. Along with the new powertrain, these airplanes also get modular hydrogen capsules in the rear of the fuselage.
The unique advantage of the Universal Hydrogen capsules is that they can be used with standard cargo handling equipment. This means that the capsules are transported from the production site to the airport and then simply loaded into the aircraft using the existing airport equipment. In other words, there's no need for dedicated infrastructure, which saves a lot of money and time in terms of certification.
The company's next major goal is to obtain the FAA (Federal Aviation Administration) certification for the production configuration of the Dash-8 retrofitted with its conversion kit.
To get there, Universal Hydrogen embarked on a two-year campaign. During this time, it plans to optimize the powertrain further. The improved version will boast new hardware, including a custom-made, aviation-grade turbocompressor. This will enable the retrofitted aircraft to reach flights at 25,000 feet (7,620 meters), which is the Dash-8's operating ceiling.
The inaugural flight for this campaign lasted 20 minutes. The aircraft reached 5,000 feet (1,524 meters) and then made a few passes over the airport. During this time, the fuel cell powertrain was operated at full power in order to measure its exact noise level.
Earlier this year, the Californian company conducted the first flight of a 40-seat aircraft retrofitted with its fuel cell system. The aircraft, nicknamed Lightning McClean, claimed to be the largest airplane to run mainly on hydrogen.
The first ATR 72 aircraft retrofitted with the Universal Hydrogen system are expected to enter commercial service in 2025.
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