United Therapeutics, the biotechnology company that sponsored development of an electric-powered Robinson R44 helicopter, is continuing to advance the concept as a hydrogen fuel cell-powered aircraft.
Mikaël Cardinal, VP of program management at the United Therapeutics subsidiary Unither Bioelectronics, revealed the company’s progress May 9 at the Vertical Flight Society’s Forum 80 in Montreal, Quebec. Cardinal said that his team has been working on a prototype of a hydrogen-powered R44 for about a year-and-a-half, and its first hover is “hopefully imminent.”
