Air Products' hydrogen technology fueling Boeing's unmanned Phantom Eye

When the Phantom Eye takes to the skies, Air Products' (NYSE: APD) hydrogen fueling capabilities will be put to another unique and advanced technological use. Air Products is providing the hydrogen and fueling infrastructure for The Boeing Company's (NYSE: BA) Phantom Eye, a newly unveiled hydrogen-powered and unmanned airborne system demonstrator that is able to stay aloft at 65,000 feet for up to four days.

Phantom Eye will soon begin a series of ground and taxi tests at NASA's Dryden Flight Research Center at Edwards Air Force Base, Calif. The aircraft is in preparation for its first flight in 2011, a debut flight expected to last between four and eight hours.

"Working with Boeing on this effort has been a privilege. It is always exciting and interesting to be associated with a cutting edge project and the Phantom Eye certainly fits that category," said Bob Kelly, business development manager–Hydrogen Energy Systems at Air Products. "Our approach to working on this project was to focus on our core competencies and values of safety first, and being mindful of the specific customer needs. Our engineering and design reviews were always very much aligned with that focus."

Air Products and Boeing engineers worked closely to provide a cost effective and innovative fueling system capable of delivering liquid hydrogen to the vehicle. The hydrogen propulsion system has been described by Boeing as a key to Phantom Eye's success, offering efficiency and great fuel economy, with water as its only byproduct, essentially making the plane a "green aircraft."