China Tests Megawatt Hydrogen Turboprop, Paving Oil-Free Flight Path

China’s Aero Engine Corporation flew a megawatt-class hydrogen-turboprop on a 7.5-tonne unmanned cargo aircraft in Zhuzhou, marking the first test of direct-hydrogen combustion at this power level: a 300-meter climb, 36-kilometer leg at 220 km/h, and a safe 16-minute return. The AEP100 burns liquid hydrogen directly in a turbine, offering higher power density than hydrogen fuel cells but raising cryogenic storage and durability questions. Beijing outlines a phased hydrogen-aviation roadmap—tech validation by 2028, regional aircraft by 2035, and mainline use by 2050—with initial service anticipated in low-altitude cargo routes where infrastructure can be controlled. The test aligns with energy-security aims amid oil-market tensions and contrasts with Airbus’s fuel-cell approach, though passenger certification remains years away.