Project Newborn Positions Europe at the Forefront of Hydrogen-Powered Aviation
- HYSKY Society
- Oct 13
- 4 min read
Europe’s hydrogen aviation ambitions are accelerating with Project Newborn, a major initiative led by Honeywell Aerospace, which is targeting a first hydrogen-powered flight in 2028. The multinational collaboration—comprising 13 partners across Europe—aims to deliver a megawatt-class hydrogen fuel cell powertrain for aircraft carrying up to 19 passengers, setting the foundation for future zero-emission regional and commuter aviation.
Hydrogen Propulsion Development Reaches Key Milestones
Project Newborn began in 2023 with €44.8 million ($52.6 million) in funding from the EU’s Clean Aviation Joint Undertaking. Now, just two years later, Honeywell’s Brno research facility in the Czech Republic is spearheading system integration of a hydrogen fuel cell powertrain, which is expected to be fully assembled by the end of 2025.
Testing is currently underway at three European sites, with a fourth to open in Munich next year. The project has achieved Technology Readiness Level (TRL) 4, and Honeywell expects to ground-run the integrated system in 2026, paving the way for a demonstrator aircraft flight in 2028.
Honeywell Leads Technical Integration Across Europe
Honeywell is responsible for air supply systems, thermal management, and full systems integration. According to Ondrej Kotaba, Honeywell Fellow and technical lead for Project Newborn, critical components have undergone successful performance, environmental, and robustness testing.
“We are quite certain that 720 kilowatts is something we’ll be able to achieve at altitude,” said Kotaba, emphasizing the team’s target of 25,000 feet flight altitude and 20,000 flight hours per fuel cell stack.
Each powertrain unit will generate 700–750 kilowatts using three 300-kilowatt stacks, which Kotaba noted is “something nobody in the world has.”
Final integration testing will occur at Pipistrel’s Gorizia facility in Italy—a Textron subsidiary well-known for its Velis Electro, the world’s first certified electric aircraft.
Technical Innovation: From Cryogenic Tanks to Thermal Management
Project Newborn’s system testing spans a broad range of disciplines:
Vacuum chamber air supply tests are being conducted in Brno.
Propulsion analysis is planned at the University of Nottingham by late 2025.
Cryogenic hydrogen tank testing will occur in Munich.
Thermal management systems are already 90% validated, with new coolants being explored to replace ethylene glycol-water mixtures.
The project’s modular approach will allow both parallel and series configurations, meeting quadruple redundancy requirements for commercial certification under EASA CS-23 and eventually CS-25 standards.
Funding Uncertainty and Regulatory Pathways
While Clean Aviation’s current funding cycle ends soon, future support is uncertain. The initiative’s third call for proposals—focused more on larger regional aircraft under CS-25 regulations—may leave Project Newborn’s smaller demonstrator without immediate follow-on funding.
“Our opinion is that this technology will not get to CS-25 unless it’s proven in the CS-23 world,” Kotaba said, underscoring the importance of smaller platforms as stepping stones toward larger hydrogen-powered regional jets.
The consortium is working closely with EASA to finalize preliminary means of compliance for CS-23 by the end of 2025, followed by a draft CS-25 framework in 2026.
Honeywell believes these efforts will help standardize hydrogen safety, materials compatibility, and system reliability, paving the way for broader adoption of hydrogen propulsion.
A Step Toward Decarbonized Regional Aviation
Project Newborn’s success could redefine the hydrogen aviation ecosystem, providing critical data for larger commercial hydrogen aircraft and inspiring regulatory frameworks that enable hydrogen propulsion certification.
If successful, the project will mark a milestone in hydrogen fuel cell efficiency at altitude, supporting Europe’s broader net-zero aviation objectives.
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(Top image: Credit — Honeywell Aerospace)
FAQ: Hydrogen Aviation & Project Newborn
1. What is Project Newborn?
Project Newborn is a European initiative led by Honeywell to develop a hydrogen fuel cell powertrain for 19-seat aircraft, targeting first flight in 2028.
2. Who funds Project Newborn?
The project is funded by the EU’s Clean Aviation Joint Undertaking, which has provided €44.8 million in initial funding.
3. What is the goal of the project?
To deliver a megawatt-class hydrogen propulsion system suitable for CS-23 aircraft, with future scalability to CS-25 regional jets.
4. How powerful is the Newborn fuel cell system?
Each system provides around 720 kilowatts of usable power, composed of three 300-kilowatt stacks.
5. What makes this project unique globally?
Project Newborn’s focus on commercializability, efficiency at altitude, and full-system integration distinguishes it from other hydrogen demonstrators.
6. What aircraft will serve as the testbed?
Testing will be completed at Pipistrel’s Gorizia facility in Italy, though the specific aircraft type for flight testing has not been disclosed.
7. What are the main technological challenges with hydrogen aviation?
Thermal management, materials compatibility under long-term hydrogen exposure, and system redundancy are key hurdles.
8. What is EASA CS-23 certification?
EASA CS-23 governs small aircraft (up to 19 passengers). It serves as a foundation for scaling hydrogen technologies to CS-25 regional aircraft standards.
9. What role does hydrogen play in aviation decarbonization?
Hydrogen fuel cells offer zero-emission propulsion with higher energy density than batteries, making them suitable for short- to mid-range aviation.
10. What happens after Project Newborn’s 2028 flight?
Data from Newborn will feed into larger hydrogen aircraft programs and future regulatory frameworks, enabling certification of commercial hydrogen propulsion.
11. How is Honeywell contributing to hydrogen aviation overall?
Honeywell is investing in fuel cell R&D, air management systems, and cryogenic storage technologies, making it a central player in the hydrogen aviation landscape.
12. What’s the long-term vision for hydrogen flight in Europe?
The goal is to decarbonize regional aviation by the 2030s, leveraging projects like Newborn to develop scalable, certifiable hydrogen propulsion systems.
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