Fuel cells seem to be everywhere from Suzuki motorcycles to the Honda FCX Clarity and now Boeing has them literally taking off. Of course, it's not the first time a fuel cell has been off the ground but it may well be the first time it has been the source of the motive force.

Using a two-seat Dimona motor-glider as the test vehicle with a "Proton Exchange Membrane (PEM) fuel cell/lithium-ion battery hybrid system to power an electric motor coupled to a conventional propeller" (pause for air) the pilot brought the plane up to an altitude of 3,300 feet, cut off the power from the batteries and flew solely on power from the fuel cell for 20 minutes at 62 mph.

Don't expect to seeing this technology powering a commercial airliner any time soon though. Boeing says that they don't "envision that fuel cells will ever provide primary power for large passenger airplanes" though it could be used for secondary systems and such. Check out all the details in their press release after the jump.