Former Aurigny Dornier in alternative fuel tests
THE company that bought one of Aurigny’s Dornier aircraft has been named as one of the winners of a share of a £3m. UK-government prize aimed at companies’ research into zero emission aviation.
Aurigny announced the sale of its Dornier 228 aircraft to ZeroAvia last month.
The company is based at Kemble Airport in Cirencester and is going to use the plane for research as it continues to develop a hydrogen-electric powered aircraft.
The aircraft will have hydrogen fuel tanks that are set to eventually contain 100kg of compressed gaseous hydrogen, providing an expected 500-mile range.
ZeroAvia was one of 19 companies involved in similar research that UK Transport Secretary Grant Shapps announced as winners of the competition to make zero-emission flights a reality.
‘Funding these revolutionary projects will help to slash carbon, create jobs and get us closer to our goal of operating zero emission flights,’ said Mr Shapps.
ZeroAvia plans to bring in an aircraft in 2023 that will be capable of carrying up to 20 passengers and flying 500 nautical miles.
Its longer-term plan is to apply the technology to larger aircraft which can fly much longer distances.
An early test flight by the company took place at Cranfield University airport last September and saw the first flight of a small hydrogen-electric plane.
Guernsey was told earlier this year by a ZeroAvia representative that the island could start to use hydrogen power ‘sooner rather than later’ by installing a hydrogen power station that could be used by buses at first but eventually by aircraft.
