Many industry practitioners have long been troubled by the shortcomings of lithium battery industrial drones, such as short range and long charging time. They often return midway during field inspections and large-scale surveying operations, greatly reducing operational efficiency. On June 14, 2026, Zhengzhou National General Aviation Industry Comprehensive Demonstration Zone welcomed a new solution, with the DJI M400 unmanned aerial vehicle equipped with hydrogen fuel cells taking off and completing the first public test flight in the Henan region. This hydrogen powered aircraft model, which has been certified for mass production, completely changes the traditional drone energy mode. The entire flight process does not produce carbon emissions. On site staff conducted multiple practical tests to verify the equipment performance, demonstrating the two advantages of fast hydrogen exchange and long endurance, allowing industry personnel present to see a clear path for low-carbon transformation of low altitude economy. This test flight is not only an equipment test, but also a substantial breakthrough in the integration and development of hydrogen energy and aviation industry in Henan.

Tested multiple operational subjects on the test flight site

The unmanned aerial vehicle that took off on the same day completed a full set of practical tests according to the established process. The stable hovering, fixed route cruising, and power inspection simulation operations were all successfully completed, and the entire operation was smooth. All power indicators met the preset standards. Traditional lithium-ion industry drones generally have limited endurance and obvious limitations in long-term outdoor operations. Hydrogen fuel cell models demonstrate stronger adaptability in practical operations, and can continuously perform large-scale, long-term inspection work, adapting to the needs of various on-site operations such as power grids, ecology, and geology within the province.

Mass production models have the advantage of efficient battery life

The aircraft used in this test flight is the world's first hydrogen fuel industrial drone that has passed the DJI PSDK mass production certification. It has outstanding advantages in energy supply and endurance, with only three minutes required to replace hydrogen for the entire aircraft. A single flight can maintain a stable endurance of 90 minutes. Compared to conventional lithium battery equipment that takes several hours to charge, the fast hydrogen exchange mode significantly reduces the waiting time for intermittent operations. It can continuously carry out multiple batches of inspection tasks, effectively reducing the labor and time costs of field operations, and has a foundation for large-scale promotion.

Promote the development of low altitude green industries in Henan Province

The first flight in the Henan region achieved the transition of hydrogen power technology from laboratory research and development to on-site application, filling the gap in the application of low altitude zero carbon aircraft in the province and enriching the industrial supporting sector of Zhengzhou National Aviation Demonstration Zone. Based on the practical data accumulated from this test flight, the local area can further connect the hydrogen energy manufacturing, low altitude equipment, and inspection service industry chains, continuously cultivate new low-carbon low altitude economic formats, provide replicable and practical models for the green development of general aviation in the province, and help empower the regional new energy and general aviation industries in both directions. Keywords: Overseas dry port news, low altitude economy, hydrogen fuel cell

The first flight and landing of a hydrogen powered unmanned aerial vehicle has opened up a key link in the transformation of hydrogen energy technology into low altitude scenarios. Long range zero carbon equipment will gradually be put into various outdoor inspection work in the province, continuously promoting the upgrading of Zhengzhou's aviation industry cluster and providing practical reference for the green transformation of low altitude economy in the central region.Editor/Li Xiaohua