The PA-890 eVTOL is The World’s First Hydrogen Powered Helicopter

Hydrogen is slowly becoming the fuel of the future and the PIAC PA-890 eVTOL helicopter is pioneering that path by becoming the world’s first hydrogen powered helicopter. There was a time hydrogen was considered too dangerous for use in Aviation, with memories of the Hindenburg still fresh on the minds of many. However, with advances in technology, hydrogen is becoming a safe green alternative fuel to fossil fuels and may very well become the fuel of choice to power our green future.

Image Courtesy: Piasecki Aircraft Corp

The PA-890 is a Slowed-Rotor Winged Compound helicopter that is powered by hydrogen fuel cell technology. Piasecki Aircraft Corp (PIAC) has been developing its own fuel cell based on the high-temperature proton-exchange membrane (HTPEM). This breakthrough technology promises to cut operating expenses by half compared to traditional helicopters while producing far more power than a regular lithium-ion battery system on electric powered aircrafts.

Hydrogen fuel cell technology is not without its complexity and therefore only a few aircrafts have been using the technology. The PIAC PA-890 will revolutionize the commercial helicopter market with over a 50% reduction in operating costs, reduced noise and zero emissions when compared to turbine powered helicopters in operation today.

Image Courtesy: Piasecki Aircraft Corp

The future looks bright for hydrogen fuel cell powered helicopters and the company envisions the PA-890 to be used for a variety of missions, including EMS, On Demand Mobility (ODM), Quick delivery of high-value on demand logistics (ODL), military applications and a wide variety of other commercial applications.