The world's first fuel cell glider makes maiden flight

The world's only piloted aircraft using fuel cell propulsion technology took off from Hamburg airport on Tuesday on its first public flight, proving that hydrogen-powered transportation is not a pipe dream. During its 10-minute maiden flight, the Antares DLR-H2 aircraft was piloted by Axel Lange, the 46-year-old head of one of the companies which adapted the motor-assisted glider to demonstrate the new technology.


The current propulsion model and aerodynamics of the glider allows a top speed of about 170 kilometres per hour, but work is already well advanced to raise that to 300 kph.
The air-cooled stack in the fuel cell system uses Polymer electrolyte membrane (PEM) technology based on BASF’s Celtec membrane electrode assemblies and a stack supplied by Serenergy. A PEM fuel cell, which operates at between 120°C and 180°C, uses hydrogen fuel and oxygen from the air to produce electricity. The potential power generated by a fuel stack depends on the number and size of the individual fuel cells that make up the stack and the surface area of the PEM.
DLR isn’t the only one making moves in this area. In a test earlier this year Airbus powered an aircraft system with a conventional hydrogen and oxygen based fuel cell that generated up to 20kW to power the aircraft’s back-up hydraulic circuit, an electric motor pump, and ailerons. Boeing Research and Technology Europe modified a two-seat Diamond Aircraft Dimona motor glider with a PEM fuel cell/lithium-ion battery hybrid to power an electric motor coupled to a conventional propeller.
DLR says that although results from the test are promising, more research needs to be done, and points out that the Antares trial is just one part of a larger process.


## German fuel cell plane makes maiden flight