WATCH: World’s first hydrogen-powered regional vertical take-off aircraft

Sirius Jet aims to ‘solve the environmental stigma of private air travel’, and has been developed by a pilot. 

Alexey Popov’s cutting edge design can carry up to three passengers a maximum of 1,150 miles. A second model, the Sirius Millennium Jet, and produces no carbon emissions but with significantly greater range than electric aircraft can currently offer. 

Hydrogen aviation is not a new concept, with the first successful flight taking place in 1957. Various iterations, attempts and prototypes have come along since. The Sirius blueprint is predominantly based on out-of-the-box technology, although a hydrogen-electric powertrain produced by BMW and Sauber F1 is completely novel. 

Described as ‘the missing link’, this incorporates a ducted fan system which is used in multiple locations along both sets of wings. the front and midsection of the fuselage. The vertical takeoff and landing (VTOL) also has a unique flared tail. Combined, it is expected this will produce speeds of up to 323 MPH but only 60 decibels of volume. This is comparable to a conversation in a restaurant. 

A full scale version of the Sirius Jet is now in production, and will be ready for flight at the end of this year. More airframes will then be manufactured in 2025 to facilitate wider and more extensive testing, with a view to approval from the Federal Aviation Administration by 2027 in the US, which is the main target market, although initial production is happening in Switzerland. Commercial flights could begin as early as 2028. 

Take a look at footage of what the VTOA will look like below.

More on transport: 

https://environmentjournal.online/headlines/warrington-switches-on-electric-buses-in-new-emissions-drive/

https://environmentjournal.online/headlines/self-driving-shuttles-very-light-rail-local-transport/

https://environmentjournal.online/headlines/local-authority-insight-report-ev-charging-infrastructure/

Image: Sirius Jet