China's AECC AEP100 Completes World's First Flight Test of Megawatt-Class Hydrogen-Fueled Turboprop Engine

  China announced that the megawatt-class hydrogen-fueled turboprop engine AEP100, developed by Aero Engine Corporation of China (AECC), has successfully completed its maiden flight, mounted on a 7.5-ton unmanned cargo aircraft in Zhuzhou, Hunan Province. The test flight lasted 16 minutes, covering a distance of 36 kilometers at a speed of 220 km/h and an altitude of 300 meters. The aircraft completed its planned maneuvers and returned safely to the airport. According to official media, this marks the world's first flight test of a megawatt-class hydrogen-fueled turboprop engine.

  This test flight was a short-duration, low-altitude unmanned validation, not a commercial breakthrough. However, it signifies that hydrogen-powered aviation propulsion technology has moved from the laboratory and ground testing into a real-world flight environment. AECC stated that this achievement demonstrates China's complete technological chain for hydrogen-powered aviation engines, from core components to system integration, representing a crucial capability milestone before industrial application.

  In the short term, this technology is more likely to be applied in low-altitude scenarios, such as unmanned cargo transport and island logistics. These areas are easier to realize compared to manned aviation in terms of payload, range, certification pressure, and operational economics.

  AECC reported that the engine operated smoothly and stably throughout the flight, and the aircraft safely returned to the airport after completing all scheduled maneuvers.

  Relevant experts pointed out that the successful maiden flight indicates that China has established a complete hydrogen-powered aviation engine technology system, covering key components to whole-machine integration. This achievement lays the foundation for the industrial application of hydrogen energy in the aviation sector.