A few months after being selected by Airbus to equip a demonstrator based on an A330, the French firm H3 Dynamics has announced its new partnership with Lyte Aviation. The British start-up is aiming for a 1,000 km range with its vertical take-off and landing (VTOL) aircraft.

Lyte Aviation is developing a SkyBus that does not require a runway for take-off or landing, as it can operate in vertical mode. Similar to Joby Aviation, which is exploring hydrogen to extend its range, Lyte Aviation’s use of hydrogen allows for a complementary battery and fuel cell system. The batteries are used for take-off and hovering, while the fuel cell provides propulsion for the flying taxi.

For this project, H3 Dynamics will supply a fuel cell tailored to aerospace requirements. With 15 years of experience in the field, the French company will also provide electrolysers for on-demand hydrogen production. As Lyte Aviation founder Freshta Farzam notes, “As we are already in close collaboration with airports in Europe and the U.S., and we need to make sure that our customers can benefit from efficient and easily available hydrogen infrastructure solutions.”

The British start-up has secured 23 pre-orders worth £920 million and is also developing a cargo version called the SkyTruck.

“We believe now is the time to begin transitioning eVTOLs from batteries to hydrogen. We are proud to be partnering with LYTE Aviation to move the world another step forward,” says Taras Wankewycz, founder and CEO of H3 Dynamics.

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