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Sirius Rebrands Planned Hydrogen Business Aircraft
Swiss startup Sirius Aviation has revealed more details about its planned pair of hydrogen-electric business aircraft. At the Move Expo in London late last week, the company made a joint presentation with BMW Group Designworks, with which it is partnered in developing two variants of the design that it aims to bring to market in 2028.
Building on plans first announced in January, Sirius Aviation has now rebranded the aircraft as the CEO Jet and the Adventure Jet. It appears to be targeting corporate customers with the former model, and the leisure/charter market with the latter.
Sirius now says that both aircraft will have a range of 1,000 nm and will operate at speeds of 323 knots. In January, it said that what it then referred to as the three-passenger Sirius Business Jet would be able to fly that far, but that the larger Sirius Millenium Jet would seat up to five passengers with a range of just 565 nm.
Both versions are expected to be able to fly at altitudes of up to 30,000 feet. According to Sirius, refueling the aircraft with gaseous hydrogen for its fuel cells will cost around $500, based on its assessment of market prices in 2028.
According to Sirius and BMW, the cabin of the CEO Jet will feature “bespoke bathrooms,” champagne fridges, and pet accommodation for “discerning travelers.” They claimed the Adventure Jet will boast an “exploration-ready design.”
Sirius said its proprietary propulsion system will use hydrogen fuel cells to power 28 ducted fans, 20 of which are mounted to the aircraft’s main wing while eight are in the canard. The ducted fan concept is somewhat reminiscent of the battery-electric Lilium Jet eVTOL. However, Sirius has incorporated a V-shaped tail, whereas Lilium has mounted the wing at the rear of the fuselage.
“We’re bridging the gap for individuals who aspire to own a business jet with pride in a future that values eco-consciousness,” said Sirius CEO Alexey Popov. “Our customers will inspire admiration and respect, fostering a culture of positivity rather than judgment or criticism.”
However, Sirius provided no update as to how the company intends to finance the ambitious program. It also faces competition from French startup Beyond Aero, which is working on its own hydrogen-electric business aircraft. In May, the company confirmed the BYA-I aircraft is now expected to carry between six and eight passengers, with a range of 800 nm and a cruise speed of 310 knots.
Beyond Aero has already built and flown a subscale 85-kilowatt technology demonstrator. The Toulouse-based team is now working on a 1-MW-class propulsion system to drive a pair of ducted fans at the rear of the fuselage. Initially, these will run on gaseous hydrogen, but the company aims to switch to liquid hydrogen when this is viable.
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