Beyond Aero’s Hydrogen-Electric Aircraft Program Heads to Wind Tunnel

Testing represents one of the final stages in the company’s preliminary design phase, which it expects to complete soon.

Jack Daleo

Monday, January 19, 2026 at 12:02 PM ET

Verified

Edited By:

Travis Tingle

A one-eighth scale model of Beyond Aero’s hydrogen-electric BYA-1 concept completes wind tunnel testing in the Netherlands. [Credit: Beyond Aero]

Key Takeaways:

Beyond Aero successfully completed inaugural wind tunnel tests for its BYA-1 hydrogen-electric business jet, validating its unique external hydrogen tank architecture.
The testing confirmed numerical predictions and brings the BYA-1, which targets a 2030 introduction, closer to its design freeze and formal EASA certification.
The BYA-1 is designed for 6-8 passengers with an 800 nm range and aims to achieve significant operational cost reductions by utilizing hydrogen fuel.

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A French company developing what it bills as the first hydrogen-electric light business jet is starting to put its unique architecture through experimental testing.

Beyond Aero—developer of the BYA-1, which it aims to introduce around 2030—on Monday revealed that it completed an inaugural wind tunnel test campaign using a one-eighth scale prototype. The company told FLYING it is nearing the final stage of its preliminary design phase, during which it will freeze the design. After that, it will begin formal certification efforts with the European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA).