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Old October 25th 07, 07:32 PM posted to rec.aviation.piloting
Larry Dighera
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Posts: 3,953
Default Boeing Considering Ford Hydrogen Powered Engine For HALE UAV


This press release makes one wonder how hydrogen is superior to other
aviation fuels. Do conventional aviation fuels become too viscous in
the stratosphere's frigid -58 degree F ambient temperature?


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The Boeing Company http://www.boeing.com/news/releases/index.html
Boeing Tests HALE Hydrogen Propulsion System Using Ford-Developed
Engine

High Altitude Long Endurance (HALE) aircraft (shown here in an
artist's rendering)
http://www.boeing.com/news/releases/2007/q4/071024b_pr.html
Click image to view Photo Release.

ST. LOUIS, Oct. 24, 2007 -- The Boeing Company [NYSE: BA], using a
Ford Motor Company-developed hydrogen engine, has successfully tested
the hydrogen propulsion system of its High Altitude Long Endurance
(HALE) unmanned aircraft.

"This test demonstrates the technical readiness of the hydrogen engine
system and confirms the capability breakthrough in flight endurance
and altitude that could be realized by a variety of military and
commercial customers," said Darryl Davis, vice president and general
manager, Boeing Advanced Precision Engagement and Mobility Systems.

During the test, the engine ran for nearly four days in a controlled
chamber at Aurora Flight Sciences in Manassas, Va., including a total
of three days that simulated conditions at 65,000 feet. The propulsion
system included a multi-stage turbocharged internal combustion engine
and its associated subsystems. The Ford engine earned better than
expected fuel economy while demonstrating complete airflow and torque
control across the engine's operating range.

"This simulated flight allows us to showcase the capabilities of
Ford's proprietary hydrogen engine technology and the durability of
our four-cylinder engines," said Gerhard Schmidt, vice president, Ford
Research and Advanced Engineering. "We are very pleased with the
results. The gasoline version of this same engine can be found in our
Ford Fusion and Escape Hybrid vehicles."

The Boeing HALE aircraft is designed to economically maintain
persistent presence over a specific ground location from stratospheric
altitudes, providing tremendous potential for surveillance and
communications applications. The test marked a key step toward proving
the essential technical elements are in place for full-scale
development.

"This test could help convince potential customers that
hydrogen-powered aircraft are viable in the near-term," said Boeing
Advanced Systems President George Muellner. "This is a substantial
step toward providing the persistent intelligence, surveillance and
reconnaissance capabilities our customers desire."

Boeing, as HALE's system designer and integrator, is working closely
with Aurora Flight Sciences and Ford to develop the aircraft's
propulsion system.

HALE is designed to stay aloft for more than seven days and carry
payloads weighing up to 2,000 pounds. Potential applications include
battlefield persistent intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance,
border observation, port security and telecommunications. The long
endurance autonomous aircraft will be a propeller-driven, lightweight
structure with a high-aspect-ratio-wing.