Airspeeder: The first hydrogen flying F1 is Australian?

Here is a competitor for MACA, a French aviation and aerospace component manufacturer. Indeed, Alauda Aeronautics, based in Adelaide (Australia), has designed a flying race car that runs on hydrogen.

And it claims, of course, that this is a world first. The vehicle, which takes off and lands vertically (VTOL: vertical take off and landing), claims a top speed of 360 km/h, which it can reach in 30 seconds. The Airspeed Mk4 is equipped with a 1,000 Kw (1,340 hp) hydrogen-powered turbo generator that supplies power to all four electric motors. The system, called Thunderstrike, uses a rocket-derived combustion system that maintains a high flame temperature while reducing NOx.

The Airspeeder, which can fly for 300 km, is equipped with a system that allows it to manoeuvre with great precision. You can see it fly here.

This level of performance offers the possibility for racing. And this is precisely what Alauda Aeronautics is aiming for, announcing the date of 2024 as part of the Airspeeder racing series. The firm is looking for a manufacturer to become a partner.

The company, which uses 3D printing techniques and artificial intelligence, has designers and engineers from Airbus, Boeing, Ferrari and McLaren. It believes that such a vehicle could also have a future as a means of private transport.

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Article written by Laurent Meillaud and translated by Logan King