Universal Hydrogen completes first flight using hydrogen

A small passenger plane, nicknamed Lightning McClean, departed Moses Lake and flew for 15 minutes as the first of its kind to run on hydrogen fuel cell propulsion.

Alex Koll, an experienced former US Air Force test pilot and the Universal Hydrogen’s chief test pilot, led the maiden voyage of the modified Dash-8 aircraft. He says the engines are quieter than those on planes filled with jet fuel.

The test flight returned to Grant County International Airport after reaching an altitude of 3,500 feet. And with the plane’s emissions taking the form of only water, Koll sees hydrogen run planes as the future of eco-friendly aviation.

Universal Hydrogen is targeting 2025 for passengers to fly aboard the hydrogen run plane. The California company plans to continue test flights and research in the Moses Lake area.

Aircraft runs on a propulsion system that mixes hydrogen with the atmosphere and emits water.

Universal Hydrogen converted a short-hop passenger aircraft into one that produces zero carbon emissions. Universal Hydrogen plans to use Moses Lake as a test bed for further hydrogen run flights.