H3 Dynamics Completes World’s First Flight With Proprietary Distributed Hydrogen-Electric Nacelle Technology
23.11.2022 09:00:00 EET | Business Wire | Press release
The future of hydrogen aviation powered by H3 Dynamics’ distributed hydrogen propulsion nacelles has taken flight for the very first time in France.
This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20221121006001/en/
H3 Dynamics distributed hydrogen electric nacelles proven on first flight (Photo: Business Wire)
Following the announcement of its hydrogen aviation concept back in 2018, H3 Dynamics managed to become a topic at an Oval Office press conference on the very next day, and started what is now a global hydrogen aviation movement.
In November 2021, H3 Dynamics completed its first working hydrogen propulsion nacelle prototype. In July 2022, the first distributed pod system took to the skies on a scaled-down aircraft at “Hub Drones - Systematic” airfield near Paris. The hydrogen flight received clearance from the French civil air authorities (DGAC).
H3 Dynamics’ self-contained nacelle approach addresses technical, safety and cost challenges hydrogen aircraft developers could face at some point in the future. It achieves this by placing hydrogen and smaller fuel cells across a series of collaborative propulsion nacelles under the wings. A new 2022 study forecasts the global thrust nacelle market to reach $7 Billion by 2030 highlights H3 Dynamics’ hydrogen solution as a key new opportunity in the sector.
Other, higher-visibility hydrogen aircraft proponents will fly larger size aircraft much sooner – but they will do so by converting existing aircraft using fuel cells sourced from the automotive world – and storing large amounts of gas or liquid hydrogen inside the main fuselage.
“Not only is safety our first priority, but we don’t want hydrogen competing for revenue-generating airfreight and passenger space,” said Taras Wankewycz, Founder/CEO of H3 Dynamics. Distributing small systems solves technical headaches, such as thermal management, and increases safety through multiple redundancy.
H3 Dynamics’ 25kg test aircraft is already a breakthrough - with an electric flight range of up to 900km on liquid hydrogen, or 350km with pressurized hydrogen. Its externalized nacelle design also frees up 30L of fuselage volume with no hydrogen nor any powertrain elements inside. H3 Dynamics’ hydrogen propulsion nacelles could potentially become a “snap-on” retrofit for battery-powered unmanned eVTOL or fixed wing cargo drones.
Preparing for the arrival of much longer duration unmanned hydrogen flights - H3 Dynamics started to work on airspace safety with world-leading air traffic control companies. It has been building experience with high-volume enterprise data services being deployed in smart cities such as Singapore, and gradually coupling these with drone-agnostic charging stations.
By starting at the lower-end boundary of regulatory and certification efforts, H3 Dynamics doesn’t need to wait until 2035 to begin its commercial journey. “We all need to learn today with small commercial applications and gradually increase aircraft size over time together with all stakeholders – most importantly, the regulators.”
Now H3 Dynamics is already preparing its next steps.
It is exploring liquid hydrogen integration as part of a joint-development with ISAE-SUPAERO in Toulouse launched in 2019. The objective is a historical and symbolic Atlantic crossing on hydrogen electric propulsion in the coming two years.
And with airfield experiments feeding its digital twin capability for hydrogen aircraft design, H3 Dynamics is now working on a next generation platform powered by 6 independent hydrogen-electric nacelle systems. The aircraft will feature fast-refueling and will be used as a test bed for H3 Dynamics hydrogen-electric propulsion technology moving forward.
About H3 Dynamics: www.h3dynamics.com
H3 Dynamics is on a long-term mission to decarbonize aviation with a unique technology solution around distributed hydrogen-electric propulsion, as well as ground refueling solutions. While the commercial opportunities around passenger-scale hydrogen aviation continue to mature, the company is implementing an incremental product and services roadmap that solves safety, technical, regulatory challenges starting small and simple, adding scale and complexity over time. The company currently has 95 employees and serves clients globally from its 3 regional headquarters in Toulouse, Austin and Singapore. H3 Dynamics is member of the Alliance for Zero Emission Aviation under the European Commission, the Lufthansa Cleantech Hub, Paris Advanced Air Mobility Alliance, and Aerospace Valley in Toulouse.
To view this piece of content from cts.businesswire.com, please give your consent at the top of this page.
View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20221121006001/en/
Contact information
Taras Wankewycz
CEO, H3 Dynamics
taras@h3dynamics.com
About Business Wire
For more than 50 years, Business Wire has been the global leader in press release distribution and regulatory disclosure.
Subscribe to releases from Business Wire
Subscribe to all the latest releases from Business Wire by registering your e-mail address below. You can unsubscribe at any time.
Latest releases from Business Wire
ICC Arbitral Tribunal Issues Quantum Award for AOP Health in BESREMi® Proceedings7.8.2026 20:48:00 EEST | Press release
An ICC Arbitral Tribunal has awarded AOP Orphan Pharmaceuticals GmbH (“AOP Health”) a total of about EUR 112 Mio in a quantum award issued in the ongoing arbitration proceedings with PharmaEssentia Corp. (“PharmaEssentia”) concerning BESREMi® (ropeginterferon alfa-2b). The award quantifies AOP Health’s damage claims for PharmaEssentia’s intentional breaches at ca. EUR 82 Mio. It also awards AOP Health ca. EUR 31 Mio plus interest as reimbursement for AOP Health overpayments made to PharmaEssentia as a result of excessive pricing in the years 2019-2022. The Tribunal thereby confirmed that PharmaEssentia has been overcharging AOP Health by up to 900% over these years. The Tribunal affirmed AOP Health's valid set-off of the profit-sharing payments amount owed to PharmaEssentia of approximately EUR 17 Mio against AOP Health's substantially exceeding damages claims. This means that AOP Health shall not make any payment to PharmaEssentia. Interest on AOP Health’s claims will continue to accr
Coulson Aviation Canada Acquires 10 Former RCAF Hercules, Doubling C-130H Fleet7.8.2026 20:16:00 EEST | Press release
Coulson Aviation Canada, the Canadian division of Coulson Aviation, has acquired 10 former Royal Canadian Air Force CC-130H Hercules aircraft from the Government of Canada. This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20260807019094/en/ Britton Coulson, left, and Wayne Coulson stand in front of one of 10 former Royal Canadian Air Force CC-130H Hercules aircraft recently acquired by Coulson Aviation from the Government of Canada. At right is a Coulson C-130H outfitted for aerial firefighting with the company’s proprietary RADS-XXL retardant delivery system, capable of carrying up to 4,000 U.S. gallons, or more than 15,000 litres, of water or fire retardant. The acquisition doubles Coulson’s global C-130H fleet to 20 aircraft, expanding its capacity to build the world’s largest C-130 airtanker fleet. The acquisition doubles Coulson’s global C-130H fleet from 10 aircraft to 20 and gives its Canadian division the scale to build
Energy Vault Announces Strategic Agreement to Deploy 1.25 GW of Integrated Power Infrastructure for Hyperscaler AI Data Center with Leading Power Generation EPC Deploying Caterpillar Gensets7.8.2026 19:16:00 EEST | Press release
Energy Vault Holdings, Inc. (NYSE: NRGV) ("Energy Vault"), a global leader in sustainable energy infrastructure, today announced the execution of a strategic commercial agreement under which Energy Vault will supply battery energy storage systems ("BESS"), grid-forming power conversion systems and AI infrastructure controlsoftware to support an initial deployment totaling 1.25 gigawatts ("GW") of integrated power infrastructure for hyperscaler AI data centers. The agreement establishes a repeatable AI power infrastructure platform that combines dispatchable power generation, intelligent battery energy storage, grid-forming inverter systems, advanced AI infrastructure controls software and turnkey EPC and plant integration into a single integrated solution designed specifically for hyperscaler AI data centers and high-performance computing campuses. The companies will jointly deploy fully integrated, off-grid power systems capable of bringing AI compute capacity online significantly fas
SES Advances Next-generation MEO Strategy Following Successful Completion of IRIS² Rendez-vous 17.8.2026 11:52:00 EEST | Press release
SES today announced the successful completion of Rendez-vous 1 (RDV1) under the Infrastructure for Resilience, Interconnectivity and Security by Satellite (IRIS²) programme, marking a key milestone in the programme's implementation phase and reinforcing Europe's path towards sovereign, resilient and secure satellite connectivity. The successful completion of RDV1 confirms the programme's readiness to move forward with implementation and provides greater visibility on the long-term scope, performance and economics of the MEO segment. SES's expected capital commitment for the MEO segment is up to €1.35 billion, reflecting current programme scope, while maintaining the deployment of 18 MEO satellites and the targeted service entry in 2030. SES’s share of the investment in the IRIS² programme for 2026 is included in SES’s FY26 Capex outlook as previously communicated. No future exceptional cash proceeds will be used to fund the project. Since the signing of the IRIS² Concession Contract in
Allianz Delivers Record Result and Is Well on Track to Achieve Its Targets7.8.2026 08:10:00 EEST | Press release
2Q 2026 This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20260806509750/en/ Oliver Bäte, Chief Executive Officer of Allianz SE Total business volume at 45.6 billion euros, an internal growth of 5.7 percent1, with contributions from all segments. Asset Management delivers excellent growth. Operating profit rises 10.6 percent to a record level of 4.9 billion euros. Shareholders’ core net income at 2.6 billion euros; 12.7 percent below last year. Adjusted for a divestment gain last year and offsetting measures following the sale of the stake in our Indian JVs, underlying growth is strong at 10 percent. 6M 2026 Total business volume at 98.6 billion euros, an internal growth of 4.3 percent1, driven by Property-Casualty and especially Asset Management. Operating profit rises 8.6 percent and reaches a record level of 9.4 billion euros. Shareholders’ core net income advances 15.5 percent to 6.4 billion euros. Adjusted for divestment eff
In our pressroom you can read all our latest releases, find our press contacts, images, documents and other relevant information about us.
Visit our pressroom