Stralis Aircraft plans aircraft retrofitted with hydrogen

Brisbane-based Stralis Aircraft is gearing up for a maiden flight in 2024 of Australia’s first retrofitted hydrogen propulsion system as the company progresses plans for a sustainable future in aviation.

The upcoming maiden flight of the Beechcraft Bonanza A36 has been described as a significant milestone for the project, which is led by Stralis with the support of QUT and the federally funded iMOVE Cooperative Research Centre.

The program is also supported by the Hydrogen Flight Alliance, which was launched this year on a mission to facilitate Australia’s first commercial emission-free hydrogen powered flight between Brisbane and Gladstone in 2026.

Leveraging the Google X and Airbus background of CEO and co-founder Bob Criner, Stralis Aircraft’s roadmap includes retrofitting a Beechcraft 1900 aircraft and designing a new 50-seat aircraft.

The 15-seat B1900 has a range of 800km with plans to enter service in 2026 for launch customer Skytrans, which operates services in Far North Queensland from Cairns to Cape York and Torres Strait.

The company says it aims to showcase hydrogen-electric aircraft to world leaders and global business elites should Australia succeed in its bid to co-host COP2026.

QUT’s involvement is crucial in modelling, implementing and testing the system design and performance, drawing on the team’s experience with hydrogen, fuel cells and power electronic systems.

The university also plans to use the project’s outcomes for broader research into hydrogen-based energy systems and incorporate these findings into its educational programs.