On April 4, 2026, a 7.5-tonne hydrogen-powered unmanned cargo aircraft completed its maiden flight in Zhuzhou, Hunan.

It is equipped with China’s self-developed AEP100 megawatt-class hydrogen-fueled turboprop engine — the world’s first of its kind to test-fly.

During the 16-minute flight, the plane traveled 36 km at 220 km/h and 300 meters altitude, with the engine running smoothly.

The success means China has built a full industrial chain for hydrogen aviation engines, laying groundwork for commercial use.

The technology is expected to be applied in unmanned freight and island logistics first, then expand to larger aircraft, boosting the green development of China’s aviation industry.