How Hydrogen-Powered Helicopter Flight Could Help Healthcare

Unither Bioelectronics, a subsidiary of United Therapeutics, is hoping its short but crucial flight of a hydrogen-powered helicopter will be a "critical step" in zero-emissions healthcare aviation.

The modified Robinson R44 aircraft lifted off and hovered for three minutes and 16 seconds at Roland-Désourdy Airport in Bromont, Quebec. It demonstrates stable hover and manoeuvring ability throughout the trial.

This outcome is crucial for Project Proticity, a collaboration between Unither and Robinson Helicopter Company.

Developing clean flight capabilities

Project Proticity focuses on converting Robinson’s R44 and R66 helicopters into hydrogen-electric aircraft. It begins with the retrofitting of a single R44.

Unither, which operates in the field of medical logistics, identifies hydrogen-powered helicopters as tools for faster and cleaner organ delivery.

“Our first test flight successfully demonstrated the hover and manoeuvre capabilities of our innovative hydrogen powertrain,” says Mikael Cardinal, Unither Bioelectronic’s Vice President of Program Management & Business development for Organ Delivery Systems. 

He adds: “Our next phase of development will focus on integrating a liquid hydrogen storage system which we believe is an essential technology for enabling our extended-range missions to deliver manufactured organ alternatives to patients in need.”

The choice of hydrogen-electric propulsion is rooted in the environmental advantage it brings.

Unlike fossil fuel-based systems, hydrogen fuel cells emit only water vapour.

That makes the technology attractive for decarbonising aviation, especially in applications such as vertical take-off and landing (VTOL) vehicles.

Impacts on aviation and healthcare

Unither's success carries broader implications for aerospace and healthcare.

It shows how clean propulsion technologies like hydrogen fuel cells can be practically applied to rotorcraft.

The trial demonstrates that hydrogen-powered systems are no longer theoretical but operational.

Second, it highlights the role such aircraft could play in transforming medical logistics.

Unither envisions using these helicopters to transport manufactured organ alternatives over longer distances without relying on polluting engines.

With the planned addition of liquid hydrogen storage, aircraft range could increase considerably.

Inside the powertrain and flight system

The aircraft used in the flight replaces its piston engine with a hydrogen fuel cell system.

This includes two proton exchange membrane (PEM) fuel cells, a Magnix electric motor and a compact battery pack. The hybrid arrangement ensures the powertrain can adapt to fluctuating energy demands during flight.

During the three-minute test, Unither reports that around 90% of the aircraft’s energy comes directly from hydrogen.

The company views this trial as a precursor to more advanced designs and, eventually, certified production-ready aircraft

Unither outlines three key achievements from the flight:

• The first piloted hydrogen-powered helicopter flight

• The first crewed hydrogen flight in Canadian airspace

• A confirmed proof-of-concept for using hydrogen fuel cells in VTOL aircraft

“The importance of this milestone in aviation history cannot be overstated,” says David Smith, President and CEO of Robinson Helicopter. 

He adds: “Project Proticity has taken an incredible first step forward in the path to long-range, zero emission vertical flight.”