A Chinese cargo drone powered by a hydrogen-fueled engine has successfully completed its maiden flight, marking a milestone in China’s push for green aviation. The 7.5-ton aircraft is powered by the world’s most powerful hydrogen turboprop engine of its kind, capable of generating more than 1 megawatt. The engine operated normally and remained in good condition throughout the 16-minute test flight, the plane’s developer Aero Engine Corporation of China (AECC) announced. The aircraft covered 36 km at a speed of 220 km/h, flying at an altitude of 300 meters. After completing all scheduled maneuvers, it returned to an airport in Zhuzhou in Hunan province. The successful maiden flight meant China has established a complete technological chain in hydrogen-fueled aviation engines, covering everything from core components to full engine integration, laying the foundation for the industrial application of hydrogen energy in aviation. With its high energy density and zero emissions, hydrogen fuel is a promising solution for decarbonizing the aviation industry.
But hydrogen power will need to overcome several technical and policy hurdles before commercial passenger flight becomes a reality. Liquid hydrogen requires heavily insulated, cryogenic fuel tanks, taking up roughly four times the volume of standard jet fuel for the same energy output. Heavy infrastructure investment is also required to bring economic scale to production. At present, regulatory bodies worldwide have not yet established comprehensive certification standards for commercial hydrogen flight. The AECC indicated it would take time for the use of hydrogen aircraft to become established, saying its new engines were likely to be first used in the low-altitude economy, for example carrying air freight to China’s islands, before expanding to mainline uses.
China has previously explored other hydrogen power options in aviation. It successfully tested a four-seat aircraft prototype powered by hydrogen internal combustion engines in Shenyang in 2024. That same year also saw a Chinese-made hydrogen fuel cell turbojet engine exhibited at the Zhuhai Airshow. Last year, China successfully tested a hybrid four-seat aircraft powered by a lithium battery and hydrogen fuel cell system, showing improved range and endurance. In Europe, Airbus continues to pour resources into its ZEROe initiative, aiming to bring commercial hydrogen-powered aircraft to market by 2040-2045, the South China Morning Post reports.
