Aerospace Sector

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>>> Airbus unveils hydrogen plane concepts it hopes are flying in 15 years

Airbus' three ZEROe concept aircraft would all be powered by hydrogen, which is says would combine with other technologies and aerodynamic designs to help achieve zero-emission passenger flight by 2035.


By Daniel McCoy

Reporter, Wichita Business Journal

Sep 21, 2020


https://www.bizjournals.com/wichita/news/2020/09/21/airbus-unveils-hydrogen-planes.html


In a move that could mean both design and manufacturing opportunities for Wichita, Airbus on Monday unveiled concepts for zero-emission passenger aircraft it hopes could enter service by 2035.

The company said in a press release that each would be powered by hydrogen and incorporate multiple new technologies and aerodynamic configurations to help achieve the zero-emission goal.

“This is a historic moment for the commercial aviation sector as a whole and we intend to play a leading role in the most important transition this industry has ever seen,” said Airbus CEO Guillaume Faury. “The concepts we unveil today offer the world a glimpse of our ambition to drive a bold vision for the future of zero-emission flight.”

The concepts include turbofan and turboprop versions, as well as a 200-passenger blended-wing aircraft.

While much will still need to be done to hit its 2035 goal — not the least of which are investments against the backstop of financial strain in the industry due to Covid-19 and the airport infrastructure needed for hydrogen refueling — the concepts could hold chances for Wichita to play a role.

The city is home to Airbus Americas Engineering, which, along with supporting all the commercial aircraft in Airbus’ existing fleet, has in recent years leveraged the resources at it home on the Innovation Campus at Wichita State University to quickly develop new components for its European parent.

On the production side, Wichita-based Spirit AeroSystems Inc. has work on all of the aircraft in Airbus’ commercial backlog, which is done mainly at plants in North Carolina and the U.K.

But Spirit (NYSE: SPR) has been intentional about wanting to grow its Airbus portfolio and could be a prime candidate for any new structures or possibly more needed for new aircraft.

“These concepts will help us explore and mature the design and layout of the world’s first climate-neutral, zero-emission commercial aircraft, which we aim to put into service by 2035,” Faury said. “The transition to hydrogen, as the primary power source for these concept planes, will require decisive action from the entire aviation ecosystem. Together with the support from government and industrial partners, we can rise up to this challenge to scale up renewable energy and hydrogen for the sustainable future of the aviation industry.”

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