Rotorcraft
Unither Achieves First Hydrogen-powered Helicopter Flight
Pioneering liftoff took place in Bromont, Québec
Hydrogen fuel cell-powered Robinson R44 helicopter
The Proticity proof-of-concept demonstrator is a Robinson R44 helicopter equipped with two proton exchange membrane fuel cells, a small battery, and a gaseous hydrogen tank. The two round units on either side of the helicopter are cooling units for the fuel cells. © Unither Bioélectronique

Unither Bioélectronique test pilot Ric Webb lifted off in a Robinson R44 helicopter powered by a hydrogen fuel cell propulsion system at Roland-Désourdy Airport in Bromont, Québec, Canada, on March 27. A subsidiary of United Therapeutics, Unither is developing hydrogen-powered helicopters, including a hybrid-electric R66, that it plans to use to transport manufactured organs for transplants.

“Our first test flight successfully demonstrated the hover and maneuver capabilities of our innovative hydrogen powertrain,” said Mikaël Cardinal, v-p of program management and organ delivery systems at United Therapeutics.