The Fuel-Cell Powered DynAero Lafayette III
experimental two-seater aircraft
The world's first
fuel-cell powered aeroplane crossed the boundary from fiction to
potential reality due to advances by The Foundation for Advancing Science
and Technology Education also known as FASTec. Using a Dynaero
Lafayette 3 as the vehicle they plan to gradually phase the power of the
plane from normal combustion to fuel-cell energy. First the plane will
be adapted to electricity using lithium ion batteries, the same kind used in
small electric cars such as the Nissan Altra EV,
with test flights in 2002.
This will be followed by a conversion to
battery power enhanced with a fuel-cell and lastly to the plane's complete
reliance on hydrogen fuel-cell energy.
