Honeywell-led Project Newborn Team Targets Hydrogen Flights in 2028

Project Newborn Team Targets Hydrogen Flights in 2028

Integrated system assembly of hydrogen fuel cell powertrain expected by year-end

Honeywell's Brno facility in the Czech Republic — Honeywell's Brno research and development facility in the Czech Republic is at the heart of Project Newborn initiative to develop hydrogen propulsion for aircraft with 19 or fewer seats. © Honeywell Aerospace

October 9, 2025

Europe’s Project Newborn hydrogen propulsion initiative is on track to reach its final stage in 2026, the consortium’s leader Honeywell confirmed last week, indicating that the aerospace-specific powertrain it is developing is expect to be in final assembly by the end of the year. However, ahead of an anticipated first flight on a demonstrator aircraft in 2028, the partners remain uncertain about future public investment from the European Union Clean Aviation initiative.

Newborn started in 2023, backed by the Clean Aviation agency and tasked with the goal of developing a megawatt-class propulsion system initially applicable to EASA’s Part CS-23 type certification. These regulations cover aircraft with a maximum of 19 passengers.

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