Boeing tests fuel cell-powered plane

Move over biofuel, now it's time for fuel cells to get airborne.

Chicago-based Boeing (NYSE: BA) said today it has flown a small, manned airplane powered by hydrogen fuel cells, calling it a first for aviation history.

The company had been working on the plane for over a year (see Boeing prepares fuel cell plane for testing.)

The airplane manufacturer said three test flights took place in February and March at an airfield in Ocana, south of Madrid.

The news follows a biofuel test flight from the U.K.'s Virgin Atlantic earlier this year (see Virgin takes off with commercial biofuel test flight), as well as an announcement from Houston-based Continental Airlines (NYSE: CAL) that it too plans to test a biofuel-powered plane (see Continental Airlines to test biofuels).

Boeing is involved in both of those projects.

"Boeing is actively working to develop new technologies for environmentally progressive aerospace products," said Francisco Escarti, managing director of Boeing Research & Technology Europe.

"We are proud of our pioneering work during the past five years on the Fuel Cell Demonstrator Airplane project. It is a tangible example of how we are exploring future leaps in environmental performance, as well as a credit to the talents and innovative spirit of our team."

Boeing said a two-seat Dimona motor-glider with a 53.5 foot wingspan was used as the airframe in the project, with a proton exchange membrane fuel cell and lithium-ion battery hybrid system to power an electric motor coupled to a conventional propeller.

During the flights, after reaching a cruising altitude of 3,300 feet above sea level, Boeing said the pilot disconnected the lithium-ion batteries and flew for about 20 minutes on power solely generated by the fuel cells.

Boeing said it worked with industry partners in Austria, France, Germany, Spain, the U.K. and the U.S. on the project, including U.K. fuel system firm Intelligent Energy and UQM Technologies (AMEX: UQM) in the U.S., which makes electric motors.

Critics say hydrogen fuel cells are inappropriate for powering large scale vehicles, given that most hydrogen is generated from fossil fuels, and substantial investment is required in a distribution infrastructure.