Stralis Aircraft and Fabrum
Ara Ake is supporting Stralis Aircraft and Fabrum in a collaboration to enable Australasia’s first liquid-hydrogen-powered flight.
Overview
Stralis Aircraft, Fabrum and Ara Ake are collaborating to design, develop and test liquid-hydrogen storage tanks and a fuel system for Stralis aircraft. This partnership aims to enable Australasia’s first liquid-hydrogen-powered flight – a milestone that supports the transition toward zero-emission aviation.
The project
Australian company Stralis Aircraft, a developer of high-performance, low-operating-cost hydrogen-electric propulsion systems, will integrate Fabrum’s tanks and fuel system into its aircraft.
Fabrum, a New Zealand company specialising in zero-emission transition technology, is providing lightweight composite tanks and dispensing systems, essential enablers for hydrogen-powered aircraft.
The project is supported by Ara Ake, and aligns with Fabrum’s hydrogen testing facility at Christchurch International Airport. Together, the collaboration will:
- Advance liquid-hydrogen storage and refuelling technologies.
- Support Stralis’ hydrogen-electric propulsion systems.
- Strengthen industry ties between New Zealand and Australia.
Why it matters
This project positions New Zealand as a global testbed for sustainable aviation innovation and builds local expertise in liquid-hydrogen aviation technologies.
The technology
Stralis’ hydrogen-electric propulsion systems are designed to be lighter and more efficient than current alternatives. Compared with battery-electric solutions, they could enable aircraft to fly up to ten times further, at a lower cost than fossil-fuel-powered planes.
Hydrogen-electric systems can be applied across multiple aircraft types, including battery replacements, retrofits, new designs, or auxiliary power units for larger aircraft.
Looking ahead
With support from Ara Ake, Stralis and Fabrum are accelerating their technology development, with the goal of achieving Australasia’s first liquid-hydrogen-powered flight. This collaboration represents not only a technical milestone but also a pivotal step toward making zero-emission aviation commercially viable in Australasia and beyond.
More about hydrogen
- Energy density: Three times higher than sustainable aviation fuel, and over 100 times greater than batteries.
- Fast refuelling: Particularly when using liquid hydrogen.
- Lower maintenance: Hydrogen-electric propulsion systems have fewer moving parts and can reduce engine maintenance costs by 40–60%.
- Clean and quiet: Producing only water vapour, with no CO₂, SOx or NOx emissions.
Resources
Media
28 October 2025: World-first liquid-hydrogen refuelling delivers major step toward Australasia’s first hydrogen-electric flight
26 March 2025: Hydrogen electric flight prepares for lift off in New Zealand