China’s push for hydrogen-powered planes takes step forward amid Iran energy crisis

A Chinese cargo plane powered by a hydrogen-fuelled engine has successfully completed its maiden flight, marking a milestone in China’s push for green aviation.The 7.5-tonne uncrewed aircraft is powered by the world’s most powerful hydrogen turboprop of its kind, capable of generating more than 1 megawatt.The engine operated normally and remained in good condition throughout the 16-minute test flight on Saturday, state news agency Xinhua reported, citing the Aero Engine Corporation of China (AECC), its developer.The aircraft covered 36km (22 miles) at a speed of 220km/h (137mph), flying at an altitude of 300 metres (985 feet). After completing all scheduled manoeuvres, it returned to an airport in Zhuzhou in central Hunan province, according to the report.The successful maiden flight came days after the turboprop successfully completed full ground-tests on March 29.Xinhua said the successful maiden flight meant China has established a “complete technological chain” in hydrogen-fuelled aviation engines, covering everything from core components to full engine integration, “laying the foundation for the industrial application of hydrogen energy in aviation”.