Boeing PhantomEye

The Hydrogen Surveillance Drone Courtesy Boeing

Video: See Footage From Phantom Eye's First Flight

With its inaugural test flight this year, Boeing’s Phantom Eye surveillance drone proved that hydrogen could power aircraft capable of extremely long flight times. Phantom Eye’s engineers modified its two Ford internal combustion engines to burn liquid hydrogen, which has a much higher energy-to-weight ratio than fossil fuels. When testing and development is complete, 1,900 pounds of liquid hydrogen should keep the propeller-driven Phantom Eye at 65,000 feet for up to four days—three times as long as its closest competitor.