Dovetail unveils hydrogen-electric propulsion system aimed at converting existing aircraft

The company has signed letters of intent with prospective customers for its converted aircraft, including Spanish regional airline Air Nostrum, leasing group Monte, and Scandinavian Seaplanes. Air Nostrum is also an investor in Dovetail along with Spain-based composites specialist Aciturri and Volotea.

Dovetail envisions using converted aircraft on routes such as connections between Spanish islands in the Mediterranean Sea and the mainland. It is also proposing air services between cities like Faro in Portugal and Jerez in Spain.

According to Doral, "the next stage of testing will see Dovetail’s engineering team run the system to temporary power peaks" while experimenting with different configurations regarding the ratio between batteries and fuel cells.

Early technology trials have been based in Spain's Andalusia region through collaboration with the regional government. Talks are ongoing to select a location for Dovetail's permanent operations center in Spain.

Work on this prototype has been partly funded by Spain’s ICEX organization through its Innova Invest program. Additional backing has come from Australia's Victoria state government where initial test flights are expected next year.