Hydrogen fuel-cell plane to visit Future of Flight

MUKILTEO — The first plane to take a hydrogen fuel cell-powered flight will make an appearance this month at the Future of Flight Aviation Center.

The Boeing Co. flew the aircraft powered by fuel cells earlier this year in Madrid, Spain. The Future of Flight will have the airplane on display June 11. Aviation specialists will also be on hand to discuss hydrogen fuel cell technology.

In April, Boeing announced that it had completed the first manned hydrogen fuel cell powered flight. The two-seat Dimona motor-glider, built by Austria’s Diamond Aircraft Industries, has a fuel cell/lithium-ion battery hybrid system that allows it to power an electric motor coupled to a conventional propeller.

“Boeing is actively working to develop new technologies for environmentally progressive aerospace products,” said Francisco Escarti, Boeing Research and Technology Europe’s managing director, in April.

Boeing does not envision that fuel cells will ever provide primary power for large passenger airplanes but says the technology could power small manned and unmanned air vehicles.

Visitors to the Future of Flight the evening of June 11 will be able to tour the aircraft, listen to presentations about fuel cell technology and ask questions of the Boeing research team.

During the flights, the pilot of the experimental airplane climbed to an altitude of 3,300 feet above sea level using a combination of battery power and power generated by hydrogen fuel cells. Then, after reaching the cruise altitude and disconnecting the batteries, the pilot flew straight and level at a cruising speed of 62 miles per hour for approximately 20 minutes on power solely generated by the fuel cells.

A fuel cell is an electrochemical device that converts hydrogen directly into electricity and heat with none of the products of combustion such as carbon dioxide. Other than heat, water is its only exhaust.

Reporter Michelle Dunlop: 425-339-3454 or mdunlop@heraldnet.com.