Aircraft

Project HYDRA, 21 hour flight time, 4 x 250MW extreme efficiency two piece turbines, triplet redundancy, extreme safety, MTOW 250 tonnes

In both freighter and 350 seat airliner mode our heavy lift, long range aircraft are designed to last without breaking the bank.

I. Strategic Benefits & Market Disruption

The HYDRA-Efficiency platform is not an incremental improvement; it represents a paradigm shift in commercial aviation economics and environmental impact.

1. Unmatched Operating Efficiency (The Glider Effect)

The aircraft is defined by its ultra-high Aspect Ratio (AR 18.5) wing—a feature previously reserved for high-performance military and surveillance gliders.

• Lifting Efficiency: The long, slender wing dramatically reduces induced drag, especially at high gross weights, resulting in a breakthrough in Lift-to-Drag Ratio (L/D).

• Zero-Emission Goal: Powered by highly-efficient LH2 fed to a CSOFC stack (for power generation) and HTS E-Turbofans (NRDS), the platform operates with zero in-flight CO2 emissions and significantly reduced NOx output.

• Noise Reduction: The HTS E-Turbofan's Non-Reciprocal Drive System (NRDS) eliminates the traditional gearbox and its associated noise. The large fan diameter and high bypass ratio also contribute to an anticipated 10-15  EPNdB reduction compared to equivalent thrust legacy turbofans.

2. Commercial Advantages Over Competition

The design offers compelling operational cost reductions and market positioning versus existing platforms.

Feature

HYDRA-Efficiency Platform  Boeing 777X / Airbus A350 Benefit to Investors

Fuel Source

Liquid Hydrogen (LH2) Kerosene (Jet A-1)  Future-Proofing against carbon taxes and volatile fossil fuel markets.

Propulsion

HTS E-Turbofan (NRDS)  Traditional Turbofan  20-25% lower energy consumption per passenger-mile due to superconducting efficiency.

Structure

Ultra-High AR High-Wing (CFRP)  Standard AR Low-Wing  Superior L/D ratio leads to lower trip fuel burn and extended range.

Cabin Layout

Double-Bubble Wide-Body  Standard Oval Wide-Body  Increased cabin width allows for a superior passenger experience or higher density layout options.

II. Safety and Certification Focus

Safety is non-negotiable and integrated through robust, redundant systems and a departure from complexity where possible.

1. Robust LH2 Cryogenic Management

The fuel is stored in two structurally independent, non-integrated CFRP tanks located outside the pressurised cabin in the aft fuselage.

• Structural Isolation: The tanks are isolated from the primary fuselage structure, preventing thermally-induced stress transfer.

• Boil-Off Strategy: Any unavoidable LH2 boil-off is actively managed by routing the cold gas (GH2) directly into the CSOFC stack, ensuring immediate and safe consumption by the propulsion system. This eliminates the need to vent hydrogen and minimises fire risk.

• High-Wing Advantage: The high-wing configuration provides maximum ground clearance for the engines, reducing the risk of Foreign Object Damage (FOD) and engine ingestion.

2. Simplified Flight Control: The Hydro-Mechanical System

In contrast to modern fly-by-wire systems, this platform prioritises pilot intuition and system resilience by utilising an advanced, redundant hydro-mechanical control system with a mechanical linkage.

• Pilot Fidelity: Direct, non-computerised mechanical connection between the cockpit controls and the flight surfaces (elevators, ailerons, rudder). This provides pilots with superior tactile feel and system state awareness.

• Cyber Resilience: Immunity to cyber-attack on primary flight controls. System failure modes are purely mechanical, allowing for straightforward, predictable redundancy management (e.g., dual cable runs).

• System Comparison: While Airbus (e.g., A350) and Boeing (e.g., 777X) rely entirely on sophisticated, complex flight control computers (FCCs) to manage stability and flight envelope protection, our system uses the mechanical structure for direct control, leveraging proven, legacy resilience for primary surfaces.

• Electronic Augmentation: Pitch and roll stability are augmented via a separate, minimal Electronic Stabilisation System (ESS) that acts on trim tabs only, leaving the primary control surfaces mechanically driven. This is a deliberate design choice that enhances safety by limiting points of failure in the most critical systems.

III. Conclusion

The HYDRA-Efficiency platform uniquely addresses the aerospace industry’s two greatest challenges—environmental sustainability and operational cost. By leveraging a high-risk, high-reward approach to aerodynamic efficiency (AR 18.5) and pairing it with a resilient, zero-emission propulsion chain and a simplified, safety-focused control system, we are positioning this aircraft to be the market leader in the post-kerosene era.