On July 5, the RX4M four-seat electric-hybrid aircraft prototype successfully completed its maiden flight at Shenyang general aviation industrial base. Developed and manufactured by the Liaoning General Aviation Academy, the aircraft employs a electric-hybrid propulsion system integrated with a hydrogen fuel cell developed by the research team of Professor Zhigang Shao and Associate Professor Feng Xie from the Fuel Cell System Science & Engineering Research Center (DNL0301 Group) of the Division of Fuel Cell and Battery at our institute. During takeoff and climb, the aircraft is powered by both the fuel cell and lithium batteries, while during cruise, the fuel cell alone supplies power and simultaneously recharges the lithium battery pack. The aircraft has a maximum takeoff weight of 1400 kg, an effective payload of 320 kg, a maximum range of 400 km, and an endurance time of 2 hours.

The hydrogen fuel cell system applied in this project was specifically designed for aviation use in the tens to hundreds of kilowatts power range. It adopts a modular design concept, developed by our institute and integrated by Guochuang Hydrogen Energy Co., Ltd.—a company established based on our institute’s technology transfer. The system achieves breakthroughs in key technologies such as high-efficiency lightweight air supply, hydrogen ejector recirculation, performance consistency, and integrated thermal management. Its mass-specific power reaches 1000 W/kg, and the output power can be linearly scaled through series or parallel modular configurations.  

The same team had previously developed a 10 kW fuel cell system for the fuel-cell-powered airship “Zhiyuan I” and the fuel cell drone “Thunderbird,” as well as a 20 kW system for a two-seat fuel cell aircraft. The successful application of this 70 kW aviation fuel cell system combines the research expertise of our institute in fuel cells with the integrated manufacturing capabilities of Guochuang Hydrogen Energy, providing a practical foundation for applying hydrogen fuel cell technology in the development of the low-altitude economy. (Text and Photos by Feng Xie)