SUMMARY

Fuel cell powered aircraft have been of long term interest to the aviation community because of their potential for improved performance and environmental compatibility. Only recently have improvements in the technological readiness of fuel cell powerplants enabled the first aviation applications of fuel cell technology. Based on the results of conceptual design studies and a few technology demonstration projects, there has emerged a widespread understanding of the importance of fuel cell powerplants for near-term and future aviation applications. Despite this, many aspects of the performance, design and construction of robust and optimized fuel cell powered aircraft remain unknown. The goal of this master thesis is to develop a UAV in order to validate modeling tools, design and control of fuel cell systems that is computer-based, application-integrated, parametric, and optimizeable. Based on the results of the integrated fuel cell system and aircraft analyses, we can gain confirm the optimization methods and validate the interaction between powerplant and application for fuel cell aircraft. The UAV is designed to be a 24 hours long endurance fuel cell airplane.