Aerospace systems
First fuel cell power system for manned flight
The world’s first manned fuel cell powered flights took place in Spain in early 2008. In the culmination of a multi-year programme led and funded by Boeing; a light aircraft was repeatedly flown for over 20 miles using only an Intelligent Energy fuel cell power system to power the propulsion system.
A two-seat Dimona motor-glider with a 16.3 meter (53.5 foot) wingspan was used as the airframe.
Built by Diamond Aircraft Industries of Austria, it was modified by BR&TE (Boeing Research & Technology Europe, a part of Boeing Phantom Works) to include a PEM fuel cell system, supplied and developed by Intelligent Energy, configured as a hybrid with lithium-ion batteries to power an electric motor coupled to a conventional propeller. The aircraft used the lithium ion batteries for take-off, but switched to solely using the PEM fuel cell system for the flight cruising.
Aerospace and aviation industry applications of fuel cell systems include:
- UAVs
- Small manned aircraft
- On-board APUs
- On-board battery replacement
- Ground support equipment (GSE)
- Ground support vehicles (GSVs)
