H2FLY successfully tests fuel tank filling for HY4 hydrogen-electric aircraft, dubbed a “world’s first”

H2FLY, based in German city of Stuttgart has successfully completed testing of its hydrogen tank during on-ground filling of liquid hydrogen, which has been dubbed by the company a “world’s first”. This newly developed tank was built and designed for the H2FLY’s HY4 aircraft by the French firm Air Liquide based on F2FLY’s requirements.

As part of the collaboration between H2FLY Air Liquide, the testing of the tanks filling system occurred on Air Liquide’s recently renovated and expanded Campus
Technologies Grenoble, in Sassenage, France. The filling tests are a necessary step that precedes the coupling tests whereby the liquid hydrogen tank will be connected to the fuel cell system in order to create a complete hydrogen-electric powertrain.

Both H2FLY and Air Liquide are members of the European project HEAVEN consortium, which was created with the goal of furthering the technology of cryogenic hydrogen fueled aircraft.

The significance of the completion of fuel tank filling tests has highlighted by Prof. Dr. Josef Kallo, co-founder and CEO of H2FLY:

The successful on-ground filling tests today, mark the next milestone in our pursuit to doubling the range of our HY4 aircraft.
It is a critical step for our upcoming flight test campaign this summer, which will demonstrate
the feasibility of liquid hydrogen as a fuel for medium and long-haul flight.

H2FLY began the mechanical integration of the liquid hydrogen fuel tank provided by Air Liquide into the HY4 aircraft in November 2022 after the hydrogen tank passed in vibration and leakage tests in the previous month of September. H2FLY plans to eventually be able to transport 40 passengers in their aircraft with a 2,000 km (1,240 mile) maximum range.

More info:

H2FLY’s official press release: click here

H2FLY’s official website: click here

European project HEAVEN: click here

Air Liquid’s official website: click here