Fokker Next Gen's Shift to Clean-Sheet Design: Hydrogen Airliner Update
Key Ideas
- Fokker Next Gen abandons Fokker 100 retrofit plan due to excessive reengineering costs.
- Company now focusing on developing a new hydrogen-combustion airliner from scratch.
- Introduction of digital twin and iron bird for fuel system marks initial milestones in the project.
Fokker Next Gen, after careful evaluation, has decided to abandon its initial plan of retrofitting the Fokker 100 with hydrogen-combustion propulsion. The company found the reengineering requirements to be economically unfeasible. Instead, they have shifted their efforts towards a clean-sheet design for a hydrogen-combustion airliner. This strategic pivot aims to optimize resources and enhance the efficiency of the project. The introduction of a digital twin and an iron bird for the fuel system signifies the beginning of this ambitious undertaking. By focusing on a new design approach, Fokker Next Gen is positioning itself at the forefront of innovation in the aviation industry, embracing the potential of hydrogen technology for future aircraft propulsion.