Manufacturer ZeroAvia has claimed a "giant step forward" for "zero-emission flight" with a six-minute test run of what it said is the largest aircraft to be powered by a hydrogen-electric engine
The flight, using a 19-seat Dornier 228 testbed plane, took place at ZeroAvia's research and development facility at Cotswold Airport.
The "landmark flight", ZeroAvia said, was part of the UK government-backed HyFlyer II project, and saw "all systems" perform "as expected".
Grant Shapps, the UK's business minister, said the test flight was "a hugely exciting vision of the future" and brought with it the promise of "guilt-free flying".
The flight "also demonstrates how government funding for projects like these is translating into net zero growth", Shapps claimed.
“This is a major moment, not just for ZeroAvia, but for the aviation industry as a whole, as it shows that true zero-emission commercial flight is only a few years away," said Val Miftakhov, ZeroAvia founder and chief executive.
ZeroAvia said it plans to "scale up" the technology used in the test to power a 90-seat aircraft, with narrowbody demonstrations being lined up for "over the next decade".