China's first ton-class liquid hydrogen VTOL drone takes flight

On Jan 9, China's first ton-class liquid hydrogen-powered vertical takeoff and landing (VTOL) drone completed its maiden test flight in Baoji, Shaanxi province.

The test flight showcased liquid hydrogen's potential in heavy-load aviation and its applications in the country's hydrogen and low-altitude economy.

According to Li Yongxin, the project's technical lead, liquid hydrogen is a clean energy source with a density far exceeding traditional aviation fuels and batteries, which allows for longer flights surpassing 1,000 kilometers.

The tested drone, jointly developed by three enterprises from Beijing and Shaanxi, has a payload capacity of 120 to 160 kilograms and a takeoff weight of 1.2 tons.

The project was a collaborative effort by drone specialists from Tsinghua University and liquid hydrogen experts from Xi'an Jiaotong University, who contributed to designing the hydrogen storage and supply system as well as the fuel cell technology.

Liu Boqian contributed to this story.