Last month marked a monumental moment for the NEX Aero team as we achieved a groundbreaking milestone in our pursuit of cleaner and more sustainable aviation: we conducted the very first test flight using hydrogen in our fuel cell powertrain.
This was the culmination of months of hard work from our incredible team. It was the first hover flight where all the developments and innovations we've been tirelessly working on could be put to the test. Our vehicle hovered with remarkable stability. The hydrogen-electric powertrain did already show great performance.
It was the world's very first hover flight of a hydrogen powered VTOL vehicle with a 4m wingspan. While the hover flight lasted only a few minutes, it was a critical step forward. We are now fine-tuning our subsystem integration, setting the stage for longer endurance flights. This will pave the way for transition and wingborne flights.
During the test flight, our hydrogen fuel cell ran at full power for the first time. The whole team was excited to see that all subsystems, from the fuel cell controller and master controller to the H2 tank and hybrid batteries, operated seamlessly. In the weeks to come, we'll be focusing on improving integration efficiency, fine-tuning airflow and air cooling systems, and exploring the capabilities of our technology even further.
This could not have happened without the entire NEX Aero team’s commitment and dedication. Together, we are shaping the future of aviation, one innovative flight at a time.
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