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Hydroplane highlights its hydrogen fuel cell powerplant development

Los Angeles-based Hydroplane is participating in the 2022 European Business Aviation Convention & Exhibition (EBACE2022) May 23-25, 2022, where it will showcase its work toward a modular hydrogen fuel cell powerplant for aviation and mobile energy storage.

Hydroplane’s large 9m x 9m booth is located in EBACE’s Innovation Zone in the company of the most pioneering future aviation technologies.

Hydroplane CEO Dr Anita Sengupta will also participate in EBACE’s Newsmakers Luncheon on May 23 from 12 to 1.30 pm. She is serving on the “Sustainability – A Flight Plan for the Future” panel, which highlights visionaries making inroads in tomorrow’s sustainable aviation fuels and offsetting solutions.

Sengupta, a former NASA engineer turned entrepreneur, says: “We are thrilled to share our work toward a future of clean aviation solutions at EBACE2022, Europe’s premiere event to experience future forward aviation technologies.

“Hydroplane’s hydrogen fuel cell powerplant will deliver affordable zero-emission electric propulsion for fixed wing and vertical lift aircraft while significantly outperforming batteries.

“Once proven on these platforms, the powerplant will then expand to support regional-range aircraft, reducing operating costs while boosting sustainability for business aviation.”

Dan Hubbard, senior vice president of communications at NBAA, says: “Dr Sengupta envisions a future of sustainability for business aviation and is a real thought leader in this space.

“We’re thrilled to have her as part of our Newsmaker’s Luncheon and as a larger part of sustainable aviation.”

A two-time Agility Prime grant winner, Hydroplane is a woman-owned company focused on developing affordable hydrogen fuel cell powerplant technology for existing single engine aircraft.

Hydroplane’s 200 kW modular solution is designed to replace existing combustion powerplants in today’s single engine and tomorrow’s urban air mobility platforms, while simultaneously delivering a significant improvement in range, endurance, and payload over the battery-powered equivalent.

The powerplant will also significantly lower operating costs compared to conventional piston engines.

Hydroplane is on track to fly its demonstrator aircraft in 2023.

Hydroplane hydrogen fuel powerplant benefits:

  • Electric aviation with regional range
  • No battery charging required
  • Zero carbon emissions
  • Longer flight time/further range than battery-powered engines
  • Low operations and maintenance costs
  • Reduced noise signature
  • Designed to be a direct replacement up to 1 MW powerplants with competitive range and installation cost

The Hydroplane team consists of seasoned space program, aviation, and automotive engineers, and fuel cell technologists uniquely skilled and experienced in developing innovative new technology for NASA, SpaceX, Blue Origin, Virgin, Boeing, and academia.

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