H-36 Diamond Motorglider to Soon Get Fuel Cell, Electric Propulsion

UQM Technologies just told us that a UQM(r) electric propulsion system will be used in a special project involving Boeing and five other companies to develop and flight test an electric motor driven airplane powered by fuel cells. The UQM electric propulsion system is being supplied by Advanced Technology Products, Inc., who is responsible for supplying the electric motors, controllers and batteries to be used in the project and for flight-testing the fuel cell powered airplane.
 
Work to integrate the fuel cells into the demonstrator airplane, which is based on a certified Diamond Katana H-36 Xtreme motor-glider (in Europe called the Super Dimona), is expected to begin this month. This would enable a possible flight test in late 2004 or early 2005. While test results are not expected to allow near-term applications of the new technology to production aircraft, they are expected to contribute to the eventual use of this technology to provide cleaner, more efficient aircraft performance.

Last year, the Company announced that a UQM electric propulsion system would power the E-Plane, an all-carbon French-built DynAero Lafayette III airplane, that is being modified to be powered by fuel cells. The E-Plane, which was on display at a number of air shows this summer in conjunction with the 100th anniversary of powered flight, is being developed by Advanced Technology Products, Inc., the non-profit Foundation for Advancing Science and Technology Education (FASTec), and a consortium of sponsoring companies. Funding for the development of the fuel cell system is being provided by NASA.

FMI: www.uqm.com; www.fastecfund.org