Much as we love settling into our sleeper on an overnight, transcontinental express, our hearts beat every bit as powerfully for the glories of aviation. We've certainly no wish to return to the days when most people could only travel overseas if they were serving in the military. And yet, with aviation accounting for almost 10 per cent of human climate change impact and growing faster than any other emitting industry, it's clear that something has to be done.
So Wallpaper* was delighted to observe the successful trial of the HyFish, the first jet entirely powered by hydrogen, and thus producing nothing but water, as it looped and climbed over the hills of Bern. The HyFish is a cosy collaboration between six firms from Switzerland, Germany, China and the US, with some assistance from scientists and Stuttgart's DLR Institute for Technical Thermodynamics.
It has taken two years to develop, but the jet's maiden voyage over the summer proved that carbon-free flight is perfectly possible. 'The HyFish is only possible as an unmanned aircraft right now,' explains Koni Schafroth, who runs the project's Swiss design company Smartfish. 'The hydrogen cell technology is probably unable to support commercial flight by itself, although it could be used for drones and spotter planes. You could combine the cell power with conventional flight technology to create a two-man aircraft that should use less fuel than a car while still reaching around 900km per hour,' he adds. 'And that is what we are developing at the moment.'
Schafroth explains the design issues were about handling weight - the HyFish weighs just 6kg when fuelled - and ensuring the best thermodynamic shape. Although the engine is a piece of technological wizardry, its output is just 1kW, so the sleek lines must ensure that every bit of power propels the HyFish forwards. Meanwhile, the Shanghai-based company that produced the cells - Horizon Fuel Cell Technologies - is refining its product so it can power a drone for a record-breaking 30 hours, again with water as the only emission.
Perhaps now would be the smart time to invest in those umbrella stocks you've been meaning to buy.
