Pratt hopes its novel combined cycle, hydrogen-fueled engine concept may eventually pave the way for a new range of radically more efficient powerplants.
Royal NLR plans to convert its Velis Electro battery-powered research aircraft for crewed flight testing of fuel-cell propulsion using liquid hydrogen.
The Blue Condor project is a research effort to study the impact of hydrogen on contrail formation using a modified glider powered by a hydrogen-fueled turbojet.
A growing assortment of startups are exploring smaller-scale hydrogen projects with hopes to scale up over time to eventually meet the needs of the mass market.
Sustainable flight will require businesses that might otherwise have specialized in discrete aerospace tasks to also get involved in nontraditional areas.
Panelists speaking during the UK ATI annual conference were optimistic that hydrogen fuel cell technology could be scaled up to power regional airliners.
A handful of startups are betting that more efficient electric and hybrid propulsion will open up new markets around the world for water-based aviation.