Rolls-Royce and easyJet have completed ground testing of a modified Pearl 15 engine running on 100% hydrogen fuel at full takeoff power. The test occurred at NASA’s Stennis Space Center near Bay St. Louis, Mississippi, as part of a four-year demonstration program involving the two companies and several partners.
The engine operated across a simulated flight cycle, including start-up, takeoff, cruise and landing phases. Engineers validated hydrogen combustion, fuel and control systems, while also testing fault scenarios and maximum-power operation. The companies stated that the test demonstrated a modern jet engine can run safely on gaseous hydrogen under simulated real-world conditions.
This marks the first such test for a contemporary jet engine on pure hydrogen. The program provided data on combustion, fuel systems and engine integration. However, hydrogen-powered commercial aircraft remain distant due to challenges in aircraft design, airport infrastructure, fuel storage and certification.
The testing built on prior preparations at the NASA site, expanding a long-standing collaboration between Rolls-Royce and NASA on aerospace technologies.