The Register® — Biting the hand that feeds IT

US Army funds hydrogen-fuelled drone aircraft

david wilson

Problems of hydrogen boiling off? 

Presumably, the fuel consumption with an aircraft like this is pretty constant, except maybe when taking off?

It could be fuelled immediately before take-off, and as long as its fuel consumption when cruising was higher than the natural boil-off rate, there wouldn't *be* much of a problem.

It's not like having a hydrogen-powered car, where having the fuel boil off in under a week would rather be a drawback, if not a bit of a safety issue.

Remy Redert

Fuel consumption 

It does seem obvious that, between the low temperature and pressure and the aircraft's fuel consumption, boil-off shouldn't be a problem, since hydrogen gas will rise to the top of the tank where you would be drawing hydrogen from the in the first place, using the hottest material first since it's easiest to burn.

Anonymous Coward

Not much 

Boys and their toys!