CBSnews t1_j56zpjm wrote on January 20, 2023 at 8:59 PM

Thanks for sharing! Here's a preview of our story by reporter Megan Cerullo:

A startup company made aviation history Thursday when it successfully flew the largest ever hydrogen-electric powered aircraft, which could pave the way for less environmentally harmful flights.

ZeroAvia's 19-seat plane, called the Dornier 228, took off from Cotswold Airport in Gloucestershire, U.K., on a flight lasting 10 minutes. Retrofitted with a prototype hydrogen-electric powertrain, it performed as expected and marks a major milestone for the future of zero-emission aviation, according to the company.

ZeroAvia counts commercial carriers, including American and United Airlines, among its investors, as the aviation industry — one of the world's most pollutive — invests in technology to decarbonize air travel. Hydrogen is considered among the most promising alternate fuel sources, and Thursday's demonstration marks a major step forward in ZeroAvia's goal of operating commercial routes with its technology by 2025.

SilverNicktail t1_j571ko0 wrote on January 20, 2023 at 9:11 PM

Damn, CBS coming in here with the Reddit support.

I didn't realise hydrogen-electric power trains were so far along, honestly - though it makes sense considering they've existed in cars for years.