Boeing Tests Hydrogen-Powered Plane
Aerospace company Boeing announced that it has successfully tested the first manned hydrogen-powered plane in the skies above
The small (two-seater), propeller-driven craft is powered by hydrogen fuel cells, which produce only heat and water as exhaust products.
Three test flights took place in February and March at the airfield in Ocaña, south of
During the flights, the pilot of the experimental airplane climbed to an altitude of 1,000 meters (3,300 feet) above sea level using a combination of battery power and power generated by hydrogen fuel cells. The fuel cells create electricity by combining oxygen and hydrogen to power the electric motor coupled to the propeller.
With the success of this testing, the company said that fuel cells potentially could power small manned and unmanned air vehicles. However, for large passenger aircraft it could only be used as a secondary source of energy, but the company will continue to investigate their potential, as well as other sustainable alternative fuel and energy sources that improve environmental performance.
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