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Hybrid
Airplanes
Hybrid airplanes and other hybrid aircraft are a thing of the
future. When those in the 'hybrid aircraft' industry use this
term, they are referring to a form of hybrid that combines the
aerodynamic lift of the body hull shape combined with the lighter-than-air
properties of the buoyancy derived from a helium-filled outer
shell.
The term 'hybrid airplanes' (and aircraft) as we are using
the term is for a hybridized power system to propel the
airplane. To date, there are fuel cell hydrogen unmanned
ultra light planes and other alternative fuel aircraft,
but none that can truly be called a hybrid-electric airplane.
NASA and Boeing have been developing plans for a hydrogen-powered
jet airplane (Boeing 777) that reforms Jet-A fuel into hydrogen
(and bi-products). The idea is to create "more electric
airplanes" in order to reduce airport emissions using
solid oxide fuel cells (SOFC). The first contract for the
initiative has been completed and the second issued. The
timeline for this hydrogen fuel cell craft to roll out is
not until 2015.
Boeing
has also been partnering with some other research companies
like Intelligent Energy Ltd, Sener, Diamond Aircraft Industries,
Aerlyper and Advanced Technology Products Corporation to
combine technological resources and bring a hydrogen-powered
prototype to market more quickly. The Fuel Cell Demonstrator
airplane as it is being called is the first step towards
developing and flight-testing a fuel cell-powered electric
airplane.
With all of the hybrid vehicle development as of late in
other industries such as automotive, locomotive and watercraft,
one wonders why the aircraft industry is lagging in hybrid
technology? This is especially true for smaller aircraft
such as single engine propeller driven airplanes that may
benefit from the fuel savings of cruising on electric power
with engine assist as needed. There has even been talk in
this industry about moving to clean-burning and efficient
diesel technology and if so, then perhaps a diesel-electric
hybrid power train will not be far behind.
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