The biggest challenge of the Hy-Bird project is to design an airplane that uses renewable energy  and that emits no greenhouse gases and that will considerably reduce the noise pollution that is generated by planes.

A solar airplane would have a disproporcionate wingspan, while a hydrogen airplane would have a fuel cell system designed for the take-off phase that is too large and too heavy. Therefore, the combination of the two energies has proven to be the best solution to keep the size of a leisure airplane and also obtain a reasonable take-off weight. 

To achieve this goal, the Hy-Bird team is confronted with another constraint: use only existing technologies, already developed and used in other industries. Therefore, the Hy-Bird team gathers strengths for the project through companies, laboratories, universities, and also individuals, each of which is specialized in a particular field.
And it is thanks to this synergy that Hy-Bird will succeed to accomplish the Around-the-world flight. The desire to share with the rest of the world this extraordinary adventure is waht the Hy-Bird team, its  providers and partners have in common.

Hy-Bird is a hybrid aircraft  that works with two renewable energies:

- Solar energy, through photovoltaic cells affixed on the wing and on the horizontal tail. Batteries store this energy in flight and on the ground in order to to use it when needed.

- Hydrogen, kept in tanks, supplies a fuel cell. This fuel cell, by means of an electrochemical reaction controlled by hydrogen and oxygen, produces electricity.

The main role of the batteries is to complement the power of the fuel cells for all phases;  takeoff, ascent and also at peak power. The fuel cell delivers, however, a continuous power corresponding to the energy needed to fly at cruising altitude.

Aircraft structure

The aircraft structure chosen by LISA Airplanes to achieve the Hy-Bird is the same one as the AKOYA's. This choice is not just a question of accessibility or ease. The AKOYA, the first aircraft designed by LISA Airplanes, has a good glide ratio and very efficient aerodynamics for a recreational aircraft. Thus, its energy consumption is very low. It is therefore a solid and appropriate basis for developing the Hy-Bird.

Solar cells

Always with theobjective to use only existing technologies, we have associated with Trina Solar, a photovoltaic cells manufacturer.  The cells used in the Hy-Bird are monocrystalline and have a yield of 17%. This yield is sufficient to recharge the batteries.

Lithium-polymer batteries were the ones chosen by LISA Airplanes, and are the most efficient technology currently on the market.

Fuel cell and hydrogen system

We have partnered with Hélion, a French company specialized in manufacturing fuel cells and hydrogen through electrolysis. The fuel cell supplied is a PEM and will deliver power between 15 and 20 kW to the engine, the same power used by the aircraft at cruising altitude.

The hydrogen tanks are made with composite materials, which considerably lighten the overall aircraft weight.

The hydrogen contained in the tanks comes from water electrolysis, produced from solar energy and/or wind energy. This process allows the plane to fly using only renewable energies.