Boeing Readying Fuel-Cell Aircraft For Tests

Makarand writes "An experimental one-person aircraft built by Boeing and powered by fuel cells could be ready for trials in Dec 2003. Once in the air the aircraft will be propelled by two 25-kilowatt fuel cells and will still rely on batteries to accelerate before taking off. If the propulsion system fails for any reason the aircraft will be capable of gently gliding back to earth. Boeing also has plans to replace re-chargeable batteries used on larger airplanes by fuel cells to cut down on pollution."

Comments

fuel cell-powered aircraft

[js7a]

Power cells will be always more difficult to operate and heavier than jet engines. No matter what the fuel (not hydrogen, to be sure)

On the contrary, the sustained altitude record is already held by a craft which has recently been fitted with a fuel-cell based energy storage system in preparation for this Summer's overhight 50,000 ft. flight.

If I were a betting man, my money would be on wind power and fuel cell storage systems.

Re:fuel cell-powered aircraft

[Muhammar]

The weight of the Helios plane is 1300 pounds while having larger wing-span than Jumbo.
The cruising speed of Helios ranges **from 19 to 27 mph.** :)

AND this ultralight is solar-energy powered. They only need an additional source of power - i.e. power storage - during the night. The reason they use fuel cell/electrolysis instead of conventional battery is that it can be lighter overall (than Lead or NiFe rechargable battery, for example).

I was comparing weight and efficiency of a fuel-cell powered engine with a conventional jet engine, not with one that is powered by a car-battery.

[Btw.: hybrid = internal combustion+electro car engine efficiency is close to 30-40% of theory right now on commercial models - far better than fuel cell experimantal designs]

If I were a betting man, my money would be on wind power schemes and gullibility of laymen.