Summary:
Airbus showed off 3 aircraft concepts that run off hydrogen with an estimated entry-into-service of 2035.
Details:
Concept 1:
-Traditional single aisle airliner design (737-10 / A321 like)
-Range of at least 2000NM
-Mach 0.78 cruise speed
Concept 2:
-Turboprop design (DeHaviland Canada Q400 / ATR-72 like)
-Range > 1000NM
-Mach 0.5 cruise speed
Concept 3:
-Blended wing body design (new style)
-Same capacity, range, and speed of Concept 1
Concept 1 & 2 will have the H2 storage and distribution systems behind the rear pressure bulkhead all the way in the back.
Concept 3 will have the systems underneath the wings
Source:
ZEROe
Thoughts:
2000NM (3700 km) for a 200 seat mainline aircraft is going to be tough sell for the North American airlines. There are penalties to range during the hottest days of the year, high elevation airports, unfavorable winds aloft, etc. Plus you need to reserve range for orbiting in holding patters or diverting to an alternate. The aircraft would be less flexible and struggle to make the connection between cities on the coasts.
Airbus showed off 3 aircraft concepts that run off hydrogen with an estimated entry-into-service of 2035.
Details:
Concept 1:
-Traditional single aisle airliner design (737-10 / A321 like)
-Range of at least 2000NM
-Mach 0.78 cruise speed
Concept 2:
-Turboprop design (DeHaviland Canada Q400 / ATR-72 like)
-Range > 1000NM
-Mach 0.5 cruise speed
Concept 3:
-Blended wing body design (new style)
-Same capacity, range, and speed of Concept 1
Concept 1 & 2 will have the H2 storage and distribution systems behind the rear pressure bulkhead all the way in the back.
Concept 3 will have the systems underneath the wings
Source:
ZEROe
Thoughts:
2000NM (3700 km) for a 200 seat mainline aircraft is going to be tough sell for the North American airlines. There are penalties to range during the hottest days of the year, high elevation airports, unfavorable winds aloft, etc. Plus you need to reserve range for orbiting in holding patters or diverting to an alternate. The aircraft would be less flexible and struggle to make the connection between cities on the coasts.