Will Contrails Be Hydrogen Fuel’s Achilles' Heel?

contrails
Hydrogen contrails might differ in character and persistence from those produced by today’s kerosene-fueled aircraft.
Credit: NASA
On a cold February day over Lake Erie in 1957, test pilot Joe Algranti made history when he switched one of the two engines on his Martin B-57B midflight to run on hydrogen rather than standard JP-4 jet fuel. Hydrogen contrails more frequent but likely less reflective Further research needed into...
Guy Norris

Guy is a Senior Editor for Aviation Week, covering technology and propulsion. He is based in Colorado Springs.

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