Beyond Aero reveals updated hydrogen-electric jet concept
March 17, 2025
Beyond Aero has revealed what it terms a “refined concept for its light jet, incorporating key engineering advancements validated by industry experts” and detailing “critical refinements to derisk hydrogen powerplan and accelerate certification and industrialisation” of its BYA-1 aircraft.
A new rendering of Beyond Aero’s twin-engine, hydrogen-electric light jet – described by its developer as “the first electric light jet designed for hydrogen propulsion, featuring a clean-sheet architecture optimised for gaseous hydrogen” – builds on an initial concept first unveiled in 2023.
The BYA-1’s battery-free hydrogen fuel cell system features a modular setup, with two electric engines powered by independent powerplant channels. The fuel cell stack capacity has been increased to 2.4MW. 700-bar gaseous hydrogen tanks will be integrated within the wingbox structure, eliminating high-pressure fuel lines within the pressurised cabin, while an “advanced thermal management system for electric ducted fans” has also been devised. A custom-designed FADEC system will be certified under a TC Engine framework, “establishing a new benchmark in electric propulsion,” concluded Beyond Aero.
The company also estimates that these engineering decisions (such as a simplified all-electric powertrain with 90% fewer moving parts) will result in lower maintenance and operational costs of up to 55%. “These refinements mark a significant step toward certification and commercialisation, reinforcing Beyond Aero’s position as the leading manufacturer on track to deliver the first certified hydrogen-electric light jet by 2030,” concluded Beyond Aero.
Beyond Aero is targeting a range of 800nm in a six-passenger configuration, with the design optimised for operational flexibility; requiring a takeoff ground roll of 620m. The OEM is currently working with EASA to define the precedent for hydrogen-electric certification.
Expert advisory committee member Erik Carlson, former technical director of stress and structural design at HondaJet, explained that the new BYA-1 was “significantly more mature than the previous version”. He added that the development team “have evaluated multiple configurations and unique constraints to produce a beautiful aircraft”.
In February 2024, Beyond Aero completed the initial test flight campaign of its prototype hydrogen-electric propulsion system aboard a Zenair CH750, a flight which also marked France’s first crewed fully hydrogen-electric flight.
In October last year, the company took its total funding to date to $44 million with the closure of a successful $20 million Series A round; co-led by Giant Ventures and French Sovereign fund Bpifrance.
