FutureFlight
Major Aerospace Groups Back Bertrand Piccard's Dream For Around-the-World Hydrogen Flight
The explorer and environmentalist aims to fly the Climate Impulse aircraft non-stop around the world in 2028
Climate Impulse aircraft
Bertrand Piccard and partners are building the Climate Impulse aircraft to fly non-stop around the globe powered by green hydrogen. (Image: Climate Impulse)

Partners including materials specialist Syensqo, Airbus, Daher, Capgemini, and Ariane Group, have started work on the construction of the Climate Impulse aircraft Swiss explorer Bertrand Piccard intends to fly non-stop around the globe in 2028. The aircraft, which is to be assembled in France by composite engineer and navigator Raphaël Dinelli, is being developed to run entirely on green hydrogen fuel as part of Piccard’s efforts to promote the need for action against climate change.

The Climate Impulse team aims to be ready to start testing the tri-hull aircraft in 2026. Its powertrain will use fuel cells to generate electricity. One of the main challenges is to safely store the liquid hydrogen at temperatures as low as minus 253 degrees Celsius for the duration of the nine-day voyage. Dinelli will accompany Piccard on the flight.