Megawatt hydrogen turboprop engine completes maiden flight in central China

China’s independently developed megawatt-class hydrogen-fueled turboprop engine, the AEP100, successfully powered a 7.5-tonne unmanned cargo aircraft through its maiden flight in Hunan Province. This 16-minute test marks the world’s first flight for an engine of this class, reaching speeds of 220 km/h at an altitude of 300 meters. According to the Aero Engine Corporation of China, the achievement demonstrates that the country has established a complete technological chain for hydrogen aviation. Experts anticipate that as green hydrogen costs decrease, this technology will initially serve the low-altitude economy, such as island logistics, before expanding to larger commercial aircraft and driving a greener aviation industry.

Credit : CGTN