Hydrogen fuel cell developer Hydroplane this week signed its second U.S. Air Force (USAF) Small Business Technology Transfer contract, marking the close of the startup’s seed round of fundraising. The contract will allow the California-based start-up to demonstrate an engineering-model hydrogen fuel cell-based powerplant in a ground and flight demonstration in partnership with the University of Houston. The company expects to fly its demonstrator aircraft next year.
“We are excited to be a part of the prestigious and highly competitive USAF Agility Prime Program, a testament to the unique innovation we bring to emission-free electric aviation with regional range,” said Anita Sengupta, CEO of Hydroplane and former NASA propulsion engineer. “Hydroplane will offer the general aviation and vertical lift markets zero-emission electric propulsion that outperforms batteries in range, endurance, payload, and operational efficiency. Once proven in this arena, we will expand the technology to regional aviation with increased operational capability.”
