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Described as a “flagship for climate action”, the Climate Impulse project aims to achieve the first non-stop round-the-world-flight in a green hydrogen-powered aeroplane in 2028.
The aircraft is being built in France by composite engineer and navigator Raphaël Dinelli following two years of R&D and design supported by Airbus, Daher and Capgemini, with the participation of Ariane Group.
Keeping liquid hydrogen at -253°C during an estimated nine days of flight will be the main challenge, the project announcement said, requiring “revolutionary innovations” in adapted thermal tanks. These will be developed in partnership with international science firm Syensqo, which was also the main technological partner on Piccard’s Solar Impulse round-the-world flight in 2016.
As with the previous project, the company will provide tailor-made materials. Its composite materials, films and additives will be used across the entire structure of the hydrogen aircraft, including the fuselage, wings and hydrogen tanks.
High-performance materials for proton exchange membranes and binders for fuel cell electrodes will provide “exceptionally high power density and efficiency”, the announcement claimed, as well as allowing a compact design. Online images and a promotional video appear to show a twin-boom aircraft with a central cockpit.
The two-year build will be followed by another two years of testing before the flight, which will be piloted by Piccard and Dinelli.
As with Solar Impulse, Climate Impulse is designed to showcase technologies that could “revolutionise” the aviation industry, and the wider mobility sector.
“In this world full of eco-anxiety, we need to restore hope and stimulate action by demonstrating disruptive solutions that lead to sustainable progress. More than flying around the world with a hydrogen aeroplane, Climate Impulse will explore new ways of thinking and acting to promote a better quality of life,” said Piccard.
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