Matt Thurber, editor-in-chief at AIN Media Group, has been flying since 1975 and writing about aviation since 1978 and now has the best job in the world, running editorial operations for Aviation International News, Business Jet Traveler, and FutureFlight.aero. In addition to working as an A&amp;P mechanic on everything from Piper Cubs to turboprops, Matt taught flying at his father’s flight school in Plymouth, Mass., in the early 1980s, flew for an aircraft owner/pilot, and for two summer seasons hunted swordfish near the George’s Banks off the East Coast from a Piper Super Cub. An ATP certificated fixed-wing pilot and CFII and commercial helicopter pilot, Matt is type-rated in the Citation 500 and Gulfstream V/550. Based in the Pacific Northwest, Matt and his team cover the entire aviation scene including business aircraft, helicopters, avionics, safety, manufacturing, charter, fractionals, technology, air transport, advanced air mobility, defense, and other subjects of interest to AIN, BJT, and FutureFlight readers.

Editor-in-Chief

Matt Thurber

On display last week at&nbsp;Aero Friedrichshafen was a mockup of Apus Group’s zero-emission hydrogen-powered twin-motor i-2 airplane, equipped to highlight the fuel cell and power controller installation in the forward fuselage.

 


The designer of the i-2 opted for an efficient “structurally integrated hydrogen storage system” using tubular wing spars as tanks. Each wing will have four spars, extending for about the first two-thirds of each wing’s span. According to Apus CEO Phillip Scheffel, the&nbsp;round carbon fiber spars can handle pressure up to 300 bars, and the aerodynamic load is only about 30 percent of the load imposed by the pressurized hydrogen. Each spar weighs 80 to 85 kg.

 


When full, the eight spar tanks can hold 23 kg of hydrogen. Together, the i-2’s two 135 kW electric motors burn five kilograms per&nbsp;hour, giving the airplane a range of 500 nm and cruise speed of 160 knots. Each propulsion system includes its own PowerCell fuel cell, power controller, and motor operating as identical power lanes. “These lanes are separated in normal operational mode and may become interconnected by a switchable crossfeed to balance the load,” Apus said.

 


Each motor nacelle will also carry a 40-kW booster battery to supplement the fuel cell during power-intensive operations such as takeoff.

 


The airplane will accommodate four occupants—one pilot and three passengers—and when fully fueled has a payload of 400 kg. Mtow&nbsp;is 2,200 kg. At an assumed hydrogen price of €5/kg, Apus estimates that operating costs will be 80 percent of those of a conventional Cirrus SR22 piston single.

 


Avionics will be a Garmin G1000 suite. Flight controls are conventional cables for ailerons and rods for elevators, actuated by two side yokes on the outboard sides of the cockpit. Landing gear is retractable and will be electro-hydraulically actuated.

 


Apus is now testing the power train and hydrogen tanks and plans to roll out the first i-2 early next year. First flight should take place at the end of 2023, Scheffel said.

 


Along with the i-2 program, Apus is also developing a larger multi-mission model, the i-5, that features the same tubular spar hydrogen storage system as the i-2. This airplane will have four 150 kW Rolls-Royce motors mounted on the leading edge of the wing.

 


With mtow of 4,800 kg, the i-5’s payload will be 1,770 kg. In passenger configuration, it can carry up to 14 people. Cruise speed is the same 160 knots as the i-2 and range will be 800 nm. Operating cost is projected as 40 percent less than a Cessna 208B Grand Caravan turboprop single.

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.

Apus Aircraft Design Stores Hydrogen in Wing Spar Tanks

Apus Group is developing a family of composite aircraft that will store hydrogen in circular wing spar fuel tanks.

2024 Corporate Aviation Leadership Summit

Kerry Lynch

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.

Ultra-long-range model has amassed 75 records, many from customer trips

Speed Records Abound for Bombardier's Global 7500

We talk through the process from conception to delivery

Flying Privately: How Aircraft Like the Bombardier Global 8000 Come to Life

Hanneke Weitering

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.

News about simulators and training procedures, as well as workforce.

AltiSky will assemble, sell, and service VoltAero's aircraft

VoltAero Picks U.S. Distributor for Cassio Hybrid-electric Aircraft 

Jennifer Leach English

Company noncommittal on expanding its lineup upwards, citing $1B investment cost

Embraer’s Plans for a Larger Bizjet Remain Up in the Air

Operations ebbed, backlogs were steady, and available aircraft increased

GJC: Bizjet Market Continues To Stabilize in 3Q2024

Greenville-based charter operator pre-orders 10 eVTOL air taxis

SAI Flight To Operate SkyDrive eVTOL in South Carolina

Charles Alcock

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

More In Aircraft

Speed Records Abound for Bombardier's Global 7500

Ultra-long-range model has amassed 75 records, many from customer trips

Flying Privately: How Aircraft Like the Bombardier Global 8000 Come to Life

We talk through the process from conception to delivery

VoltAero Picks U.S. Distributor for Cassio Hybrid-electric Aircraft

AltiSky will assemble, sell, and service VoltAero's aircraft

Embraer’s Plans for a Larger Bizjet Remain Up in the Air

Company noncommittal on expanding its lineup upwards, citing $1B investment cost

GJC: Bizjet Market Continues To Stabilize in 3Q2024

Operations ebbed, backlogs were steady, and available aircraft increased

SAI Flight To Operate SkyDrive eVTOL in South Carolina

Greenville-based charter operator pre-orders 10 eVTOL air taxis

AMSL Starts Untethered Flight Tests with Vertiia eVTOL Aircraft

Australian start-up is developing a hydrogen-powered aircraft

Deliveries Increase as EHang Works to Boost eVTOL Aircraft Performance

Chinese manufacturing wants to extend range with solid-state batteries

AIN Products

SUBSCRIPTIONS

RESOURCES

ABOUT AIN