Charles Alcock is managing editor of the AIN Media Group, having rejoined the company in 2019. He has been an aviation journalist since 1986, and previously worked for AIN from 1990 to 2017, most recently as editor-in-chief. His main focus is on covering new aviation technology and business models, as well as international news.
Having been raised in the London area, Alcock studied at the University of Manchester in the UK and earned an honors degree in Politics and Modern History. He speaks English and French, and some German.

Managing Editor

Charles Alcock

Diamond Aircraft has taken the leading role in a new project to explore the potential for hydrogen-electric hybrid propulsion systems in light aircraft. Through work funded by the Austrian Research Promotion Agency, the manufacturer and its partners will address use cases and technologies needed to introduce gaseous hydrogen as a fuel source for general aviation.
The Hydrogen-based Twin-engine Electrification and Digitalization Testbed (H2EDT) project consortium also includes research teams from FH Joanneum (Institute of Aviation and Electronic Engineering), the Technical University of Graz, HyCentA, and IESTA. They are developing an experimental hybrid propulsion testbed to assess the challenges of using hydrogen fuel, and this work is now based at Diamond’s headquarters at Wiener Neustadt and will continue through the rest of 2025.
The subscale testbed will be based on a design for a VTOL aircraft with up to 10 motors. Diamond said the team had first planned to model the hardware on a twin-engined general aviation aircraft, but decided that the focus should be something closer to advanced air mobility applications.
According to Diamond, the H2EDT will use a digital power management system based on a power distribution board developed by FH Joanneum, as well as a parallel hybrid architecture in which batteries or hydrogen fuel cells can both directly power any of the motors. It will leverage digital sensors and multiple power sources to automatically combine electric and hydrogen power as required.
The testing will use a digital twin combining both detailed CAD geometry and performance simulations. Data gathered will be used to test failure modes and different environmental conditions, including high altitude or high air temperatures.
In its announcement this week, Diamond also said that it is considering a possible follow-on project to evaluate the case for a hydrogen-powered version of its existing DA40 and DA42 aircraft. The H2EDT team expects to present its results in 2026.
<h2>Volocopter Merges into Diamond</h2>
Meanwhile, German eVTOL aircraft developer Volocopter is in the process of being integrated into the Diamond Aircraft Industries group. Since April 1, the company has been trading as Volocopter Technologies, after Diamond acquired its assets from an insolvency administrator on March 17.
Through the restructuring process, only 160 of Volocopter’s 500 employees have been retained by the new owners. Due to the disruption of the insolvency process, Volocopter has pushed back its target for achieving EASA type certification for its two-seat VoloCity model.

News and developments about aircraft engines, including turbofan, turboprop, turboshaft and piston.

Diamond Aircraft Leads Hydrogen-electric Hybrid Propulsion Project

Meanwhile, eVTOL aircraft developer Volocopter is being integrated by new owner Diamond

Diamond Aircraft and partners are evaluating new propulsion options with the hydrogen-based twin-engine electrification and digitalization testbed.

2024 Corporate Aviation Leadership Summit

News and developments about airplanes, helicopters and unmanned air vehicles used in all varieties of operations, including airlines, military, business, commercial, general aviation and private.

News about environmental issues relating to aircraft operations, including noise issues, emissisions, and regulations. See Fuel for biofuel.

News and issues relating to the aerospace industry that are related to the science, engineering and business of flight in space involving civil, industrial and military applications, and similar topics related to flight in the atmosphere of the Earth that are not covered more directly by other AINonline subject channels. In other words, both astronautical and aeronautical subjects, except for those aeronautical topics that are specifically covered elsewhere on this website.

Green aviation partnership is backed by Rolls-Royce and Lufthansa 

Dreamliner Set to Fly As New Boeing ecoDemonstrator

News and issues relating to international air transport and cargo carriers, national airlines and regional airlines, including aircraft, engines, personnel, acquisitions, accidents, safety, security and training.

Electra recently received FAA G-1 issue paper defining certification path

Safran Turbogenerator Will Power Electra Hybrid Aircraft

Curt Epstein

News and issues about aviation maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO), covering all segments of the aviation industry; and modifications for aircraft and engines. Subjects include product support of aircraft, engines and avionics, MRO company mergers, acquisitions, announcements and personnel, Airworthiness Directives, Supplemental Type Certificate approvals and other topics.

Essential news and analysis on the defense aerospace business. Your trusted source for new and ongoing programs and requirements in military aircraft (manned and unmanned), engines, avionics, weapons and associated systems, including ground-based air defense.

Claims the new process is more efficient, with less operational disruption

Pratt & Whitney Adds AI To Borescope Inspections

Charlotte Bailey

Open-fan narrowbody architecture on track to achieve predetermined efficiency milestones 

All RISE for Increasing Focus on Durability 

New initiative focused on commercial applications for electric hydrogen fuel cell engines

Airbus and MTU Launch Hydrogen Propulsion Venture 

UK engineering center of excellence is focused on ElecTRAS improvements 

Collins Advances Electric Thrust Reverser Technology

News and issues relating to business, corporate and private aviation, primarily regarding turbine-engine-powered airplanes and helicopters. Subjects include aircraft, engines, maintenance, operations, personnel, acquisitions, accidents, safety, security, and training.

In this article

Diamond Aircraft

Volocopter

More In Engines

Dreamliner Set to Fly As New Boeing ecoDemonstrator

Green aviation partnership is backed by Rolls-Royce and Lufthansa

Safran Turbogenerator Will Power Electra Hybrid Aircraft

Electra recently received FAA G-1 issue paper defining certification path

Pratt & Whitney Adds AI To Borescope Inspections

Claims the new process is more efficient, with less operational disruption

All RISE for Increasing Focus on Durability

Open-fan narrowbody architecture on track to achieve predetermined efficiency milestones

Airbus and MTU Launch Hydrogen Propulsion Venture

New initiative focused on commercial applications for electric hydrogen fuel cell engines

Collins Advances Electric Thrust Reverser Technology

UK engineering center of excellence is focused on ElecTRAS improvements

Bombardier, Rolls-Royce Expand Engine Health Monitoring

Fully digital system makes business aviation debut with Pearl 15

How Hydrogen Can Generate Electricity To Power Aircraft

A simple explanation of how hydrogen fuel cells work for aircraft.

AIN Products

SUBSCRIPTIONS

RESOURCES

ABOUT AIN