THE REVOLUTIONARY HYDROGEN POWERED SIRIUS JET TAKES FLIGHT
The Sirius Jet is the world's first hydrogen-electric VTOL aircraft, designed by Swiss startup Sirius Aviation AG in collaboration with BMW's Designworks studio and Sauber Group. It combines vertical take-off and landing capability with the range and altitude of a conventional business jet, targeting zero-emission regional air travel for passengers who need flexibility beyond the reach of fixed-wing airfields.
Why Hydrogen and Why VTOL?
Battery-electric aviation is constrained by energy density: lithium cells simply cannot store enough energy for flights exceeding about 100 miles in a practical aircraft. Hydrogen offers roughly three times the energy density of the best current battery technology by weight, making it viable for the 600 to 1,150-mile ranges that regional business travel demands. The VTOL configuration removes the need for runways entirely, allowing the Sirius Jet to operate from helipads, rooftops, and cleared open spaces rather than airports. Sirius Aviation AG combined these two technologies to target a market segment that neither pure eVTOL air taxis nor conventional hydrogen-powered aircraft currently serve.
Two Variants: CEO Jet and Adventure Jet
Sirius Aviation has announced two production configurations. The CEO Jet is designed for executive business travel, seating three passengers plus a pilot with a range of 1,150 miles, a cruise speed of 323 mph, and a cruise altitude of 30,000 feet. Noise levels at 60 dBa are described as near-silent for a VTOL aircraft. The Adventure Jet seats five passengers plus a pilot and trades some range (650 miles) for greater passenger capacity, retaining the same speed and altitude. Both variants use 28 ducted fans distributed across the wings and canard sections, each driven by a separate electric motor, to reduce noise and provide redundancy. The hydrogen fuel cell system powers the electric motors throughout the flight, with no combustion emissions beyond water vapour.
The Challenges of Liquid Hydrogen in Aviation
Gaseous hydrogen can be stored at manageable pressures, but the longer range targets of the Sirius Jet require liquid hydrogen, which must be maintained at minus 253 degrees Celsius. Cryogenic storage adds weight, complexity, and ground infrastructure requirements that do not yet exist at most airfields. Sirius Aviation acknowledges this as the central engineering and logistical challenge in bringing the aircraft to certification. The partnership with Alfleth Engineering and ALD Group addresses the structural and systems integration side, while the hydrogen refuelling infrastructure question requires industry-wide investment, as noted by Composites World and Designboom.
Personal Aviation at TheArsenale
The Sirius Jet price positions it firmly in the private aviation market for early adopters willing to invest in zero-emission flight. For those exploring personal aviation more broadly, TheArsenale's Air collection features some of the most ambitious flying machines available, including the Atea hybrid-electric aircraft by Ascendance, the Icon A5 amphibious sport aircraft, and the XPENG X2 eVTOL flying car.
Photo: Sirius Aviation
