Airbus UpNext to study hydrogen contrails

The Blue Condor project will launch two modified Arcus gliders, one equipped with a hydrogen combustion engine, the other with a kerosene-powered combustion engine, to compare contrails emitted at high altitudes.

"Contrail characterisation is of significant interest to Airbus,” said Sandra Bour Schaeffer, CEO of Airbus UpNext, Airbus’ future technologies subsidiary. “We know that hydrogen emits no carbon dioxide when burned, but we also know that with water vapour and heat being the most significant by-products, hydrogen combustion does produce contrails. Although these contrails differ significantly to those produced by conventional JetA/A1 combustion engines, understanding their composition will be key to support our decarbonisation journey.”

Bour Schaeffer continued: “In taking up this challenge we are making significant headway in our decarbonisation strategy and our ambition to bring the world’s first zero-emission commercial aircraft into service by 2035.”

The Blue Condor demonstrator will be supported by the Perlan Project team, which will modify the Arcus gliders. They will also provide the high-altitude glider pilots that in 2018 set the world subsonic altitude record – 76,124 feet – in a pressurised glider for Airbus Perlan Mission II.