Airbus Proposes Designs for Zero-Emission Flight

Concepts include a flying wing

Airbus SE is looking at the following three types:

• A turbofan jet (similar to the A321neo narrow-body) which would be powered by a modified gas-turbine engine burning only hydrogen. Liquid hydrogen will be stored and distributed through tanks located behind the rear pressure bulkhead, while at the same time hydrogen fuel cells will create electric power that complements the gas turbine. This aircraft could fly 2,000 nm carrying 200 passengers.
• The turboprop will also use modified gas-turbine engines, and have seating for about 100 passengers.
• A blended-wing design, with seating for about 200 passengers. The blended-wing, resembling a flying V, opens up new options for hydrogen storage and distribution, along with cabin layout.

According to the Airbus’s chief engineer, Jean-Brice Dumont, the blended-wing design is the most challenging out of the three designs.

All the aircraft will be hydrogen powered, as Airbus SE evaluates technologies for emission-free flight.

France and Germany have committed some 2,5 billion euros (about $2.9 billion) toward cleaner propulsion aircraft.

Airbus said, “While there are different approaches, hydrogen is likely to be used in aerospace and other industries to meet climate-neutral targets”.

Developing a hydrogen aircraft will be a real challenge because of the massive amounts of infrastructure and government investment required.

Glenn Llewellyn, vice president of zero-emissions technology at Airbus, said in a briefing that Airbus do not believe that batteries are a today-relevant technology for commercial aircraft, and Airbus believes hydrogen as having more potential.

Airbus said it plans to test the three designs over the next five years.

The program is scheduled for around 2028, and Airbus expects it will take another two years to choose suppliers and manufacturing sites before any of the aircraft come into service.

Airbus SE would like to bring a zero-carbon passenger plane into service by 2035.

The French state is backing Airbus’s research into low-carbon flight.