Hydrogen "Earrings" and Silent Skies: BYA-1's Crazy Green Jet Dream
Image Credit: Beyond Aero.
An airplane that's trying to ditch jet fuel like a bad habit? Count me in. And no, it's not some pie-in-the-sky fantasy; it's the BYA-1 from Beyond Aero, and it's got "game changer" written all over it, or at least that’s what they are saying.
I know, yet another startup promising the moon, or in this case, the stratosphere. But I think these folks aren't just doodling on napkins. They've got a team, they've got funding, and - oh yes - they've got orders. And here’s the biggest “and” - they're aiming to have this hydrogen-powered beauty soaring by 2030. That’s pretty much like promising to build a pyramid in your backyard by next Tuesday.
Image Credit: Beyond Aero.
Here's the skinny: the BYA-1 is a 10-seater business jet that runs on hydrogen. Yes, hydrogen. The same stuff that makes blimps go "boom." Beyond Aero stuffed six hydrogen tanks into this jet, four along the sides and two out on the wingtips, making it look like it's wearing fancy hydrogen-filled earrings. These tanks feed six fuel cells, each pumping out 400 kW of electricity. All this electricity then goes to electric jet turbines with enough power to make your hair stand on end, even at 26,000 feet.
With a full load of 551 pounds of hydrogen, this bird can whisk six lucky souls about 921 miles at a cruising speed of 357 mph. Slow it down a bit, to a leisurely 276 mph, and you can stretch that range to 1,381 miles, which incidentally is the distance from New York to Dallas.
Here’s the bit that will have every jet owner sit up and pay attention - Beyond Aero claims the BYA-1 is cheaper to run. By a lot. We're talking 55% cheaper operational costs, thanks to those electric jets with 90% fewer parts and modular motors that can be swapped out like a bad toupee. Plus, they reckon you'll save another 17% on fuel costs, because green hydrogen is apparently cheaper than the usual jet juice.
I got distracted by all the numbers and I almost forgot that this bird is quiet. Like, library-quiet. Beyond Aero claims the cabin noise is 15 dB(A) lower than your average jet, which translates to about a 50% drop in perceived noise. I don’t think you could hear a pin drop, but a champagne cork pop for sure.
I’m a sucker for prototypes and wild visions, I admit. And because of that, I get disappointed more than I should. It’s so easy to come up with clever renders these days, have some clever kid whip up a press release and then disappear with investors’ money. But Beyond Aero is real, and they are committed to that hydrogen idea. They've even flown a prototype, albeit a tiny one. A two-seater ultralight with a hydrogen-electric system. It's not exactly a head-turner, but it's proof that they can make this hydrogen thing work. They're also working with the European Aviation Safety Agency to get the BYA-1 certified, and honestly? That’s a lot of work. Trying to convince your cat to take a bath is easier.
Building a new airplane is not a walk in a park. It's tough. And building a hydrogen-powered one? That's a completely different game. It’s one level down from building space rockets, I guess. But Beyond Aero seems serious, and if they pull this off, they could really revolutionize air travel.
Here's to Beyond Aero, and their crazy dream of a hydrogen-powered future. May their tanks be full, their jet turbines be quiet, and their passengers be happy. And if they fail? Well, at least they tried, and that's more than most of us can say.
