An ecological solution for small planes

In the aeronautical world, the totally ecological flight is difficult to achieve, except in the case of small airplanes to transport a couple of dozen passengers.

In this case some bet on electric motors powered by batteries with the inconvenience of the weight of the latter, and others bet on hydrogen powered engines, which generate electricity and emit water as waste.

This is the commitment of the company ZeroAvia that already has a prototype (for 6 passengers) flying for a few months, and they expect acquire planes of up to 20 passengers with the same technology and with a range of 500 miles.

That would be a good step for regional aviation, as the cost would be lower than flights with current fuels (so they could lower prices) and without generating any kind of pollution.

For the test flights and to demonstrate the feasibility of the idea they have used a 6-passenger Piper plane to which they have adapted a hydrogen-powered engine. The prototype cannot be cheaper.

The FAA has authorized them to fly the prototype to carry out the test flights, and based on the results obtained they will go on to the “development” of their airplanes, which could well be that they use current airplanes to which they adapt the engines to feed them with hydrogen. Time will tell.

What I like is the “simplicity” of the idea in the sense of not starting from scratch in development, and take advantage of existing airplanes and modify them. That means significant cost savings, which can make the Project economically viable.

In aeronautics, weight is the biggest limitation and current batteries are very heavy. Just so that we get an idea, if a battery were used on the prototype plane that a car like the Tesla 3 uses, that plane could barely fly a few miles. With which the Project would not be viable.

Another advantage of this Project is the economy of flights, because hydrogen is cheaper than current fuels.

The fundamental drawback is the risk of hydrogen tank explosion in case of an accident; something that also happens in the current airplanes.

Apparently there are many advantages, but the tests need to be positive, and that will be known in a little over a year.

I wish the best to the people of ZeroAvia, because almost everyone would win.