Hydroplane Secures Second USAF Contract to Fund Hydrogen Fuel Cell Powerplant

Hydrogen fuel cell developer Hydroplane this week signed its second U.S. Air Force (USAF) Small Business Technology Transfer contract, marking the close of the startup’s seed round of fundraising. The contract will allow the California-based start-up to demonstrate an engineering-model hydrogen fuel cell-based powerplant in a ground and flight demonstration in partnership with the University of Houston. The company expects to fly its demonstrator aircraft next year.

“We are excited to be a part of the prestigious and highly competitive USAF Agility Prime Program, a testament to the unique innovation we bring to emission-free electric aviation with regional range,” said Anita Sengupta, CEO of Hydroplane and former NASA propulsion engineer. “Hydroplane will offer the general aviation and vertical lift markets zero-emission electric propulsion that outperforms batteries in range, endurance, payload, and operational efficiency. Once proven in this arena, we will expand the technology to regional aviation with increased operational capability.”

Hydroplane’s work centers on hydrogen fuel cell powerplant technology for existing single-engine aircraft. It designed its 200 kW modular system to replace existing combustion powerplants in single-engine and urban air mobility platforms, while simultaneously delivering a “significant” improvement in range, endurance, and payload over the battery-powered equivalent.

Use cases for the technology include flight training, commercial transportation, air taxi, cargo transportation, humanitarian aid, and government support. The company plans to certify its product under FAA Part 23 rules as a direct replacement for piston power plans. The Hydroplane team consists of space program, aviation, and automotive engineers, and fuel cell technologists experienced in developing new technology for NASA, SpaceX, Blue Origin, Virgin, Boeing, and academia.