Overview
- A 7.5-ton unmanned cargo aircraft in Zhuzhou used the AEP100 hydrogen turboprop for a 16-minute flight that covered 36 kilometers at roughly 220 km/h and held about 300 meters of altitude.
- The developer, Aero Engine Corporation of China, said the engine ran smoothly throughout the flight and the aircraft returned safely.
- Chinese outlets characterize the event as the first in-flight test of a megawatt-class hydrogen-fueled turboprop engine.
- Megawatt-class power can drive larger aircraft than earlier hydrogen demos, which points to potential use on heavier cargo platforms and regional planes.
- Project experts expect early adoption in low-altitude unmanned logistics, with wider use dependent on further testing, certification, refueling infrastructure, and lower-cost green hydrogen.