Conscious Aerospace Keeps Focus on Hydrogen-powered Dash 8 Aircraft

Conscious Keeps Focus on Hydrogen-powered Dash 8 Aircraft

Airlines and special-missions applications are in the Dutch start-up’s sights

Conscious Aerospace Dash 8 conversion — Dutch start-up Conscious Aerospace is working with De Havilland on plans to convert Dash 8 aircraft to hydrogen-electric propulsion.

By Charles Alcock • Managing Editor

February 17, 2026

With the support of the Dutch government and several new industry partners, Conscious Aerospace has begun preliminary design for its CA2100 hydrogen-electric propulsion system. The 2-megawatt system’s anticipated route to market involves converting existing De Havilland Dash 8 Q300 twin turboprop aircraft for both regional airline and applications such as intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance, and search-and-rescue missions.

According to company founder Michel van Ierland, computer modelling exercises conducted with De Havilland’s engineers have validated the projected performance of hydrogen-powered Dash 8s, with an anticipated range of up to 750 kilometers (408 nm) carrying 30 to 36 passengers. The Rotterdam-based start-up expects to have a ground test rig operating by the end of 2028, with flight testing on a Dash 8 to start in 2029 en route to service entry in 2030.

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