Unither Bioelectronics, Inc. (UB), a subsidiary of United Therapeutics Corporation, has completed a successful test flight of a piloted hydrogen-powered helicopter at its test and development facility in Bromont, Quebec. “The flight served as a successful validation of Proton Exchange Membrane (PEM) hydrogen fuel cell technology, proving its capability to support the demanding power requirements of a vertical take-off and landing (VTOL) powered lift profile,” the company said in a press release.
The flight test took place on March 27, 2025 at Roland-Désourdy Airport in Bromont, Quebec and was conducted under an experimental flight permit issued by Transport Canada for UB’s experimental Robinson R44 Raven II. The three minute, 16 second test flight demonstrated the hover and manoeuvring capabilities of the hydrogen powertrain.
The system combines two low temperature PEM fuel cell stacks with a small battery pack to manage transient power demands. Approximately 90 percent of the energy used for the flight was derived from the helicopter’s hydrogen fuel cells.
The test flight was conducted as part of Project Proticity, a collaboration between UB and Robinson Helicopter, which aims to accelerate the development of zero-emission helicopters
The next phase of development will focus on integrating a liquid hydrogen storage system.
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Image: Peter Krieger via Press Record Media