H2 Clipper Completes Simulated Wind Tunnel Tests for Airship Freighter

The U.S. company's current timeline calls for the start of test flights with a subscale prototype in 2025, followed by a full-sized airship in 2028. Both dates are a year later than the company projected in 2021.

H2 Clipper is developing a large, long-range airship called the "Pipeline-In-The-Sky" — H2 Clipper's "Pipeline-In-The-Sky" could be used to carry cargo, such as renewable fuels, up to 6,000 miles. (Image: H2 Clipper)

By Charles Alcock • Managing Editor

June 23, 2022

H2 Clipper this month reported progress in its plans to bring a hydrogen-powered airship to market, with the completion of simulated wind tunnel testing using computational fluid dynamics (CFD) to assess its design. The California-based start-up has named its proposed air freight vehicle the Pipeline-In-The-Sky and aims to have a full-scale model flying in 2028.

The airship is expected to have a range of 6,000 miles at speeds of 175 mph and a vast cargo volume of 265,000 cubic feet. According to the company, its operating costs will be between 17 and 25 cents per ton-mile, based on payloads of 245 tons over 1,000 miles or 170 tons over 6,000 miles.

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