Boeing’s Hydrogen-powered Phantom Eye UAV

Last month, Boeing unveiled its latest UAV, the Phantom Eye. Boeing says the hydrogen-powered aircraft can remain airborne for up to four days, at altitudes of up to 65,000 feet. Darryl Davis, the president of Boeing Phantom Works, says the Phantom Eye’s capabilities offer “game-changing opportunities for our military, civil and commercial customers.”

The demonstrator aircraft has a wingspan of 150 feet. It will cruise at about 150 knots and can carry up to 450 lbs of payload.

Later this year, the aircraft will be sent to NASA’s Dryden Flight Research Center at Edwards Air Force Base in California to start ground and taxi tests; flight tests are expected to follow early next year. Boeing says it expects the aircraft’s first flight to last from four to eight hours.

The aircraft is powered by two converted Ford Ranger truck engines that burn liquid hydrogen and produce around 150 hp each to turn four-bladed propellers. The only by-product of their combustion is water. Later versions will be capable of staying aloft for up to 10 days, according to Boeing, which says a fleet of three or four such aircraft could provide surveillance and communications services 24/7 to any base anywhere in the world. This would alleviate the logistics problems of basing aircraft at remote sites. Drew Mallow, the Phantom Eye programme manager for Boeing, said that the hydrogen propulsion system would be the key to Phantom Eye’s success. He said it is “very efficient and offers great fuel economy.” Mallow said it was very exciting to be involved with this unique aircraft.