The US technology firm said that its MEA technology enables engines to be “efficiently cooled with smaller radiators that reduce weight and drag on the aircraft.”
Stralis will install the technology onto its hydrogen-electric Beechcraft Bonanza aircraft. Stralis will trial its hydrogen-electric system on a Bonanza A36 this year, with results informing a 15-seat B1900D-HE retrofit offering 800km range, due to enter service with Skytrans Airlines in 2026.
“We are already testing our hydrogen-electric propulsion system on the ground and plan to achieve the first flight of our six-seat technology demonstrator aircraft later this year,” explained Stuart Johnstone, Stralis’ Chief Technology Officer and Co-Founder.
“Thanks to [Advent’s] tech, our system is significantly lighter than existing alternatives, which is what is needed for aircraft. We enable aircraft to fly more than 10 times further than battery-electric solutions at a lower cost than fossil fuel-powered plants.”
According to Advent, hydrogen-electric propulsion’s simpler design and lower operating temperatures could reduce aircraft engine maintenance costs by 40–60%.
While a growing number of companies have emerged and pursued the development of hydrogen powertrains for aircraft, the pursuit has yet to see commercial success.
Instead, more aviation players have been focusing on sustainable aviation fuels (SAFs), which can be produced from green hydrogen, thanks to their drop-in compatibility with existing aircraft and infrastructure, as well as usage mandates in various regions.
Hydrogen aviation’s outlook: a long runway to commercial viability
There’s been a lot of noise surrounding hydrogen aviation recently. Not the excitement heard in the early 2020s, but instead increasingly loud questions about the energy carrier’s future in flight.
While the collapse of US aviator Universal Hydrogen in July 2024 and the insolvency of German start-up Apus Zero Emission in March raised eyebrows, it was Airbus’ move to halt its commercial hydrogen aircraft plans that fuelled broader conversations.
In February, the French aerospace firm said it would delay developing commercial hydrogen-powered aircraft beyond its original target of 2035 – with no new date officially revealed.
The company announced its ZEROe hydrogen programme in 2020 when it revealed three concept designs. It also said it would test different types of hydrogen propulsion and fuel storage systems on a modified A-380.
Airbus has also been a key investor in Universal Hydrogen and ZeroAvia.
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