Having already overseen the development of the HY4 fuel cell system integration platform, and the aircraft system architecture, H2FLY most recently announced it had kicked off integrating the liquid hydrogen storage system into the HY4 aircraft.

Read more: H2FLY begins integrating liquid hydrogen storage system to enable long-haul flight

Project Heaven is funded by the Clean Hydrogen Partnership, formerly the Fuel Cell and Hydrogen 2 Joint Undertaking (FCH 2JU). Coming as part of the Horizon 2020 research and innovation programme, funded by the European Union, as well as Spain, France, Germany, and Slovenia.

Heading up a consortium made up of, Air Liquide Advanced Technologies, Pipistrel Vertical Solutions, DLR German Aerospace Centre, and EKPO, H2FLY will now be responsible for achieving the project’s goals.

Following the successful integration of the liquid hydrogen tank system, an extensive campaign of tests is planned to start in 2023, with the HY4 hoped to become the first passenger aircraft to fly on liquid hydrogen.

“HEAVEN is a groundbreaking project set up to advance fundamental developments in the field of hydrogen propulsion and move a huge step closer to our goal of zero-emission aviation,” said Prof. Josef Kallo, co-founder and CEO of H2FLY. “We’re delighted to be taking on the overall project management and further expanding the excellent cooperation with our established partners.”

Speaking at H2 View’s Mobility Snap Summit on November 29 (2022), Kallo told viewers that certification is still a significant hurdle that needs to be tackled for the development of hydrogen-powered aviation.

Read more: Skies, seas, and roads: Session one of H2 View’s Mobility Snap Summit

He explained, “The challenges that are in front of us are centred around the certification of the [hydrogen fuel cell] system. We have those components already in test, but there are no certification rules at the moment, so we have to establish our own rules to create compliance.”