RAPID200-FC, Flight Test of First All Electric Propulsion Aeroplane Powered by Fuel Cells.

GIULIO ROMEO; FABIO BORELLO; ENRICO CESTINO; GABRIEL CORREA

Venecia

Congreso; 3rd CEAS (Council of European Aerospace Societies) Air&Space Conference and 21st AIDAA Congress; 2011

Council of European Aerospace Societies

The paper contains a description of testing activities related to experimental flights of an all-electric general aviation aircraft fuelled by hydrogen. A general description of the components of the highly complex power system are first presented. Great importance has been given to the testing phase of the prototype and examples of each testing stage are shown ranging from the single components to the final test flights. During the 6 experimental flights a rotation speed of 84 km/h was obtained in 184 m of taxi at power of 35 kW. Level flight was attained at 135 km/h by mean of only a fuel cell power setting. A new speed world record of 135 km/h and endurance of 39 min. were established during several flights conducted for the FAI Sporting Code Category C (airplane).