UTRC Demonstrates First-ever Fuel Cell-Powered Vertical Flight

UTRC Achieves First Flight of a Fuel Cell-Powered Rotorcraft

EAST HARTFORD, Conn., Nov. 14, 2008 - A team of UTRC scientists, engineers and technicians achieved a key milestone in fuel cell-powered flight by successfully demonstrating for the first time the viability of using a high-power density Proton Exchange Membrane (PEM) fuel cell power plant to achieve vertical flight.

The demonstration took place at 12:36 a.m. on Thursday, Oct. 23, 2008, at the East Hartford campus of the United Technologies Research Center (UTRC).