Originally Posted by
Heston
Hydrocarbon fuels have a very good specific energy density - ie energy available for weight. Much better than current battery technology and hydrogen (glad to see that PDR1 has done a bit of research now).
On a point of information - PDR1 does not need to be patronised* on this topic, and nor does he need to do any research because PDR1 is actually involved in studies around future aircraft propulsion systems and is thoroughly familiar with the pros and cons of the different options. All that PDR1 is trying to do is get across the point that it's not a matter of "simply switch to hydrogen and the job is done, as any idiot can see" because only idiots see it that way. In shear weight/size/performance terms there is as good a case for revisiting the nuclear propulsion concepts first played with in the 1950s (especially since the intervening 60 years of experience with micro-reactors in naval applications has massively matured the enabling technologies). It's unlikely to happen because of public perceptions about safety (as much as anything else), but then the hydrogen fuel lobby haven't yet given an answer on how the BLEVE risk which would make every hydrogen-fuelled vehicle (car or aeroplane) a potential FAE of almost atomic-bomb proportions.
PDR
* For Heston's benefit - "patronised" means "talked down to"