Reaction Engines x Cranfield Aerospace Solutions – Hydrogen Propulsion Collaboration

The days when you will be able to board a hydrogen-powered passenger flight still seem a long way off, but this news of further collaboration between two highly innovative UK companies on hydrogen aerospace propulsion is a welcome sign that it is becoming closer to reality.

Airbus announced last year that it was developing a hydrogen-powered plane, but estimated that it would not be ready until about 2035 (because of the long design cycle time in aviation). Generally, there is much uncertainty about what will be the "outright winner" in terms of power source for aviation as we approach net zero. Hydrogen propulsion is certainly a contender, and it is good to see its development forging ahead, as shown by the Memorandum of Understanding signed between these two companies.