Gallery: Unither Flies R44 With Hydrogen Fuel Cell

Ben Goldstein May 08, 2026
Martine Rothblatt

United Therapeutics CEO Martine Rothblatt

Credit: Ben Goldstein

United Therapeutics founder and CEO Martine Rothblatt pictured in front of a Robinson helicopter modified with a hydrogen-electric fuel cell system.
 

R44 test flight

Bioelectronics Team Poses After Successful Test Flight

Credit: Ben Goldstein

Mikaël Cardinal, Unither’s VP for organ delivery (left), test pilot Rick Webb (center) and a helicopter chase pilot pose in front of the company’s modified R44 demonstrator.

Unither

Unither’s Hydrogen-Electric R44 Demonstrator

Credit: Ben Goldstein

Unither Bioelectronics test pilot Rick Webb prepares to lift off with the company’s R44 hydrogen fuel-cell demonstrator at Bromont Airport in Quebec.

Ben Goldstein

Aviation Week’s Ben Goldstein Describes R44 Demonstrator

Credit: Ben Goldstein

Aviation Week Senior Editor Ben Goldstein speaks in front of Unither Bioelectronics’ modified hydrogen-electric R44 demonstrator.

R44 lifts off

Water Vapor In Its Wake

Credit: Ben Goldstein

The Unither Bioelectronics modified R44 demonstrator flying at Bromont Airport near Quebec. Water vapor is the only exhaust produced by the hydrogen fuel-cell propulsion system.

Aviation Week was on hand to observe Unither Bioelectronics fly its Robinson R44 demonstrator modified with a hydrogen-electric fuel cell system. Hydrogen-powered helicopters are envisioned as part of a future zero-emission organ delivery network.

Ben Goldstein

Based in Rhode Island, Ben covers advanced air mobility and is a contributor to Aviation Week’s Business Aviation & AAM Report.

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