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interestingengineering.com • Sujita Sinha

China flies 7.5‑ton unmanned cargo plane powered by 1 MW hydrogen turboprop in world-first

China's AECC has flown a 16,535 lb (7.5 tonne) unmanned cargo aircraft powered by a megawatt‑class (≈1 MW) hydrogen turboprop in a reported world‑first test. The sortie validates liquid‑hydrogen turboprop ground and flight performance and signals a scaled step toward hydrogen‑powered light cargo operations.

2026-04-06T01:58:43.664140-07:00

Runway Girl

FAA publishes special conditions for ZeroAvia ZA600 electric engine, advancing hydrogen‑electric certification

2026-04-03T09:00:52.904964-07:00

eVTOL Insights

HYSKY and eVTOL Insights to host Hydrogen Aviation panel at NAAMCE North America Conference

2026-04-01T02:21:19.730209-07:00

FlightGlobal

Airbus validates feasibility of 100-seat ZEROe hydrogen fuel-cell regional aircraft

2026-03-19T08:04:09.975286-07:00

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interestingengineering.com

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China flies 7.5‑ton unmanned cargo plane powered by 1 MW hydrogen turboprop in world-first China's AECC has flown a 16,535 lb (7.5 tonne) unmanned cargo aircraft powered by a megawatt‑class (≈1 MW) hydrogen turboprop in a reported world‑first test. The sortie validates liquid‑hydrogen turboprop ground and flight performance and signals a scaled step toward hydrogen‑powered light cargo operations.

2026-04-06T01:58:43.664140-07:00

China flies 7.5‑ton unmanned cargo plane powered by 1 MW hydrogen turboprop in world-first

Runway Girl

FAA publishes special conditions for ZeroAvia ZA600 electric engine, advancing hydrogen‑electric certification The FAA published special conditions for the electric‑engine component of ZeroAvia’s ZA600 hydrogen‑electric powertrain, a regulatory milestone ZeroAvia calls a “major step” toward certification. The move defines novel airworthiness requirements for the ZA600 and clears a key hurdle for hydrogen propulsion on regional aircraft.

2026-04-03T09:00:52.904964-07:00

FAA publishes special conditions for ZeroAvia ZA600 electric engine, advancing hydrogen‑electric certification

Vertical Mag

Hydroplane wins Phase 2 SBIR to develop hydrogen fuel-cell electric propulsion for Army helicopters and cargo drones Hydroplane has been awarded a Phase 2 Small Business Innovation Research contract by the U.S. Army to advance development of a hydrogen fuel-cell electric propulsion system for helicopters and cargo drones. The award supports maturation of fuel-cell powertrain hardware and integration for military rotorcraft and unmanned logistics platforms.

2026-04-02T05:41:56.482655-07:00

Hydroplane wins Phase 2 SBIR to develop hydrogen fuel-cell electric propulsion for Army helicopters and cargo drones

eVTOL Insights

HYSKY and eVTOL Insights to host Hydrogen Aviation panel at NAAMCE North America Conference HYSKY Society has partnered with eVTOL Insights to present a dedicated Hydrogen Aviation panel at the NAAMCE North America Conference & Awards. The session will convene industry stakeholders to examine hydrogen’s role in decarbonizing advanced air mobility and the infrastructure and certification challenges ahead.

2026-04-01T02:21:19.730209-07:00

HYSKY and eVTOL Insights to host Hydrogen Aviation panel at NAAMCE North America Conference

FlightGlobal

Conscious Aerospace lines up partners for 2MW CA2100 fuel‑cell retrofit, targets Dash 8‑300 flight tests within three years Dutch start‑up Conscious Aerospace is accelerating design of its 2MW‑class CA2100 fuel‑cell powertrain and has secured partners — including Aeronamic, fuel‑cell supplier EH Group and a hydrogen‑tank provider — as it targets flight tests on a De Havilland Canada Dash 8‑300 within three years.

2026-03-27T09:35:00.020707-07:00

Conscious Aerospace lines up partners for 2MW CA2100 fuel‑cell retrofit, targets Dash 8‑300 flight tests within three years

Leeham News

State of Alternative Propulsion — Hydrogen‑Fueled Systems (ZEROe series) Leeham's ZEROe series examines hydrogen‑fuelled propulsion systems, reviewing fuel‑cell, hydrogen‑electric and chemically processed hydrogen powertrains. It explains how hydrogen is converted in fuel cells to generate electrical power, compares architectural trade‑offs, and highlights technical, operational and certification hurdles for regional and mid‑market hydrogen aircraft.

2026-03-26T01:51:06.822355-07:00

State of Alternative Propulsion — Hydrogen‑Fueled Systems (ZEROe series)

FlightGlobal

Beyond Aero's BYA‑1 swaps electric ducted fans for pusher propfans as PDR completes French developer Beyond Aero has replaced the electric ducted fans on its BYA‑1 hydrogen fuel‑cell business aircraft with pusher‑configured propfans, a design change confirmed by the programme's completed preliminary design review. The update represents a substantive propulsion‑architecture shift ahead of further maturity milestones.

2026-03-24T12:54:50.180415-07:00

Beyond Aero's BYA‑1 swaps electric ducted fans for pusher propfans as PDR completes

FlightGlobal

Airbus confirms feasibility of 100‑seat ZEROe hydrogen fuel‑cell airliner concept Airbus says work on its 100‑seat ZEROe hydrogen fuel‑cell aircraft concept and its associated hydrogen fuel‑cell powertrain has progressed, and the concept's feasibility was confirmed at the turn of the year. The update signals continued OEM investment in hydrogen for mid‑market and regional decarbonisation.

2026-03-24T12:54:46.854318-07:00

Airbus confirms feasibility of 100‑seat ZEROe hydrogen fuel‑cell airliner concept

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Hydrogen News

China flies 7.5‑ton unmanned cargo plane powered by 1 MW hydrogen turboprop in world-first

FAA publishes special conditions for ZeroAvia ZA600 electric engine, advancing hydrogen‑electric certification

HYSKY and eVTOL Insights to host Hydrogen Aviation panel at NAAMCE North America Conference

Airbus validates feasibility of 100-seat ZEROe hydrogen fuel-cell regional aircraft

News Timeline