This is not a world first, as Joby Aviation conducted a flight using the same technology in the USA earlier this summer. However, it demonstrates that China is firmly in the race.
The test flight took place in Baoji, Shaanxi province, in north-west China. The drone was developed through a collaboration involving several companies, including Shaanxi Tongchen Heguang Cryogenic Technology, Dreamfly Technology, and Qing Power Technology. With a full tank of liquid hydrogen, the drone can fly continuously for approximately 4 to 5 hours, covering a distance of 800 to 1,000 kilometres at an average speed of 240 km/h.
According to Shaanxi Tongchen Heguang Cryogenic Technology, liquid hydrogen is significantly more efficient than lithium batteries. This breakthrough technology opens up a wide range of applications for unmanned aircraft, including fire-fighting, transportation, and agriculture. The Civil Aviation Administration of China estimates that the country’s low-altitude aviation market will grow sevenfold by 2035.
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