Small R/C Fuel Cell Helicopter Takes Flight
Filed Under: Green Technology on December 4, 2009
United Technologies Corporation and their United Technologies Research Center in Hartford, Connecticut, has successfully flown their hydrogen fuel-cell helicopter. Remote controlled (R/C) helicopters are different from fixed-wing airplanes, requiring more power to stay aloft. They are more maneuverable and capable of lower speeds (and hovering), however.
The little R/C FC copter is capable of carrying up to five pounds in payload, and has a longer range than it’s lithium-ion battery counterpart (UTRC’s first model).
The copter has a 4,200 psi canister for compressed hydrogen and the tiny fuel cell puts out 1.75kW. The additional payload could be one or more extra fuel canisters, a camera, or other equipment. The FC helicopter is also capable of higher altitudes than the battery-powered one was.
All I can say is… gimme! gimme! I want one!
Related posts:
- ENFICA-FC Fuel Cell Inter-City Aircraft Ready for Flight Testing
- First Hydrogen-Powered Aircraft Takes to the Skies
- Breakthroughs in Green Energy Tech 2009 – Part 4, Hydrogen
