Protonex reports fuel-cell powered flight success

Protonex has announced that an unmanned air vehicle powered by its ProCore UAV fuel cell system has achieved a seven hour endurance flight.

The Aerovironment Puma vehicle is able to fly autonomously using satellite navigation systems, allowing for state-of-the-art aerial observation covering distances of up to ten kilometres.

Last summer, the US Air Force Research Laborotary UAV development project achieved a five-hour continuous flight and since then the two companies have been focusing their attentions on achieving increased endurance and payload capacity.

The ProZone UAV propulsion system consists of a fuel cell which boasts stack technology capable of delivering 1,000W/kg of power output using a chemical hydride for its hydrogen fuel storage.

Commenting on the news, Protonex chief executive Scott Pearson said: "This achievement comes as a direct result of our focused effort, working with AeroVironment and the AFRL to advance UAV endurance and payload capacity."

The development comes soon after Singapore-based Fuel Cell Technologies announced that it had achieved a 69 kilometre continuous flight using a propeller driven Pterosoar.

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