First Flight, Powered by Fuel Cell

On July 7th in Hamburg Germany the first flight occurred, the first powered by a fuel cell. The Antares DLR-H2 left the ground at 1pm Germany time. She has a wingspan of 20 meters, 8 meters broader than the Wright Flyer of 1903.

Basically Antares is a standard motorized glider retro-fitted with a fuel cell drive. She has a cruising range of 750km (466miles.) Top speed is 170kph (106mph.).

The engine was developed by DLR Institute for Technical Thermodynamics (Institut für Technische Thermodynamik – Stuttgart) and with Lange Aviation, BASF Fuel Cells and Danish firm Serenergy.

We have improved the performance capabilities and efficiency of the fuel cell to such an extent that a piloted aircraft is now able to take off using it," stated Prof. Dr-Ing Johann-Dietrich Wörner, Chairman of the Executive Board at DLR. "This enables us to demonstrate the true potential of this technology, also and perhaps specifically for applications in the aerospace sector. Coupled with our expertise in fuel cell technology, DLR's many years of extensive experience in gaining official approval for aerospace systems are what made the Antares DLR-H2 a feasible proposition. -- dlr.de