Airplanes do not use gasoline

The first ever manned planet powered by hydrogen fuel cells flew in the German sky yesterday.

The new Antares DLR-H2 is a product of DLR, Lange Aviation, BASF Fuel Cells (Germany) and Serenergy (Denmark). It has a range of 750 km and can fly continuously for 5 hours. The test flight took place in Hamburg, northern Germany.

Antares DLR-H2 took off in Hamburg, Germany yesterday. (Photo: AFP)

" We have improved the performance and efficiency of hydrogen fuel cells so that the aircraft can take off from the battery, and this test flight helped us demonstrate the potential of battery technology." especially in the aviation sector, "said Johann-Dietrich Woerner, an official at the German Aviation Center.

Hydrogen, the main fuel of the aircraft, is converted into electricity by a direct electrochemical reaction with oxygen in the surrounding environment. Burning does not occur during the reaction. The only byproduct of the reaction is water.

" Fuel cells can not yet become the main source of energy for commercial aircraft, but it will be an important source of replacement energy and additional fuel." out of CO _2, "DLR said.