ICEFlight – Cryogenic reliability test benches, for cryogenic aircraft equipment
30 Sept 2026
In the ICEFlight project, funded by the Dutch government via Luchtvaart In Transitie, the NLR – Netherlands Aerospace Centre develops world-class cryogenic test benches for reliability testing of cryogenic aircraft equipment. In 2026 a cryogenic vibration test bench, and a cryogenic thermal & pressure cycling test bench have been commissioned. As part of ICEFlight, a test campaign for items from Airbus UpNext and GKN Aerospace has been launched using these cryogenic reliability test benches. In future ICEFlight activities, the development of a GHe cryogenic cooling system interfacing with liquid hydrogen (LH2), is planned. The subsequent LH2-testing of this cryogenic cooling system will be conducted at NLR's EPTF – its LH2 test facility in Marknesse. The test infrastructure developed within ICEFlight will accelerate the maturity assessment of cryogenic equipment for LH2-fueled aircraft architectures.


