Stralis Innovates with Hydrogen-Electric Flight Target for 2025
Key Ideas
- Stralis aims to achieve the first piloted hydrogen-electric flight in the Southern Hemisphere in 2025 using Beechcraft Bonanza test beds named Bonnie and Clyde.
- The company's lightweight, patent-pending fuel cell technology promises aircraft that can fly further and operate at lower costs compared to fossil fuel-powered planes.
- Stralis has secured significant funding and partnerships, with plans to scale up their hydrogen-electric propulsion systems for wider airline adoption.
- The aviation industry sees hydrogen-electric and battery-electric propulsion systems as the future of sustainable general aviation, surpassing the limitations of sustainable aviation fuel.
Australian technology company Stralis, based in Brisbane, is making strides in developing hydrogen-electric fuel cell technology for the aviation industry. The company plans to conduct the first piloted hydrogen-electric flight in the Southern Hemisphere in 2025 using Beechcraft Bonanza test beds named Bonnie and Clyde. Stralis CEO Bob Criner expressed excitement about the upcoming milestone and emphasized the environmental benefits of their lightweight fuel cell technology. The company has received significant funding from both government grants and airline customers, showing promising progress in research and development. Stralis aims to retrofit their technology initially on Bonanza aircraft but has scalable plans for wider airline operations. The aviation industry views hydrogen-electric propulsion systems as the future for sustainable general aviation, given the limitations of sustainable aviation fuel. Stralis's innovative approach and partnerships highlight a positive outlook towards the adoption of hydrogen-electric technology in the aviation sector.