Fuel-cell aircraft set to mask high-performing predecessor

According to the centre, the Antares H3 will set range and endurance benchmarks beyond those accomplished by its predecessor, the Antares DLR-H2, which was the world’s first piloted aircraft capable of performing a complete flight powered by fuel cells alone.

The German Aerospace Centre began the project with Lange Aviation this month and the first flight is scheduled to take place next year.

Technically, the new aircraft is based upon the Antares 20E as well as the fuel-cell powered Antares DLR-H2. The Lange Aviation Antares 20E is a self-launching motorised glider with battery-powered electrical propulsion, which has been in series production since 2004.

The fuel cells, which replace the batteries, use hydrogen as fuel. The hydrogen is transformed into electrical energy in a direct and non-combustive electrochemical reaction with oxygen taken from the surrounding air. The only reaction product is water. The aircraft flies carbon dioxide neutral, if the hydrogen is created using energy from a renewable source.