Boeing has announced a successful test of the world's first hydrogen fuel-cell powered plane.
The two-seater Dimona aircraft took off on a series of test flights in Spain in February and March and stayed aloft for around 20 minutes, about half its current operational flight time.
The plane uses a combination of batteries and a proton exchange membrane fuel-cell for power.
Both systems are used for takeoff and climbing, but the batteries are shut down once the plane reaches its 3,300ft cruising altitude and the fuel-cell keeps the plane running at 100kph.
"Boeing is working to develop new technologies for environmentally progressive aerospace products," said Francisco Escarti, managing director at Boeing Research & Technology Europe.
"We are proud of our pioneering work during the past five years on the Fuel Cell Demonstrator Airplane project.
"It is a tangible example of how we are exploring future leaps in environmental performance, as well as a credit to the talents and innovative spirit of our team."
Boeing does not envisage fuel-cells ever being able to provide power for flight on large commercial aircraft.
But the company is looking at the possibility of integrating such technology into commercial flights to power instrumentation and auxiliary flight systems.
A key player in the programme was UK firm Intelligent Energy.
"Boeing's challenge to us was to provide a reliable and compact power system that could be integrated into such a light aircraft, and we delivered on our promise," said Henri Winand, chief executive at Intelligent Energy.
"This is a new dawn for clean aviation, and the latest project to vindicate our view that hydrogen fuel cells can find applications in a wide variety of sectors."
Emissions-free vehicle from classic manufacturer 04 Mar 2008
Intelligent Energy and Boeing complete three test flights of fuel cell powered aircraft 03 Apr 2008
Intelligent Energy ramps up funding for R&D and partnerships 04 Jul 2008
Hydrogen fuel cell successfully powers plane's electrical systems, raising prospect of lighter more fuel efficient aircraft 22 Feb 2008
With its first manned test flight completed, APAME is convinced its battery powered will soon be commercially available 07 Jan 2008Intelligent Energy ramps up funding for R&D and partnerships 04 Jul 2008
Focus on energy savings through fuel efficiency for homes and public and commercial buildings 04 Jul 2008
ActionAid accuses G8 of driving more people into poverty by pursing biofuels and cutting agri-aid 04 Jul 2008
More news
Businesses' new found focus on the environment may be welcome, but according to Conrad MacKerron, it is taking attention away from workers' rights issues – and the credibility of the entire green business movement could be at risk 03 Jul 2008
It may be a year old, but as Dell's Jonathan Perry explains, firms looking to get rid of their old IT kit still need to pay attention to the WEEE directive 02 Jul 2008
Telling customers about your environmental targets is all well and good but, as Paul Thomas argues, they are meaningless if you do not know how they are to be achieved 01 Jul 2008 More in-depth
Post your comment
Send an email to the Business Green editor at feedback@businessgreen.com
