Project partners Fabrum, AMSL Aero, and Stralis Aircraft used locally produced and stored liquid hydrogen for the demonstration.

For the first time in the APAC region, the core parts of hydrogen-electric aviation, from production and liquefaction to storage and refuelling, were demonstrated.

“Our lightweight composite tanks, together with our hydrogen liquefier and refuelling systems, are critical enablers for hydrogen-powered flight,” explained Christopher Boyle, Fabrum’s Managing Director.

“We’re proving that liquid-hydrogen technologies for aircraft are now available and that hydrogen-electric flight will soon be a reality in Australasia.”

After opening a liquid hydrogen testing facility last February, Fabrum led the project and supplied the technology, along with the triple-skin composite liquid hydrogen aviation tanks used for testing.

AMSL Aero plans to integrate the tanks into its Vertiia hydrogen-electric eVTOL aircraft.

The aim is to achieve a 1,000km range, 500kg payload, and 300 km/hr cruising speed. The test is expected to validate Vertiia’s end-to-end hydrogen system ahead of first flight trials in 2026.

Meanwhile, Brisbane-based Stralis Aircraft is developing a hydrogen-electric propulsion system for regional aircraft, which could cut operational costs by up to 50%. Fabrum’s cryogenic tanks will be used to supply hydrogen to its fixed-wing test aircraft.

Stralis plans to launch its first flight within the next six months.

“We’re excited to see Fabrum’s hydrogen fuel dispensing systems for these onboard tanks proven out in testing,” explained Bob Criner, Stralis CEO.

“This is a vital step toward our first liquid hydrogen test flights.”

The milestone comes at a time when liquid-hydrogen aviation has faced significant headwinds.

Several developers have struggled to stay afloat amid high capital costs and slow certification progress. Most notably, US-based Universal Hydrogen collapsed in 2024 after exhausting its cash reserves.