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Originally Posted by tycho102
This is true. However, it's possible to use methane pulsejets, using nuclear power plants and syn-gas reactors.
Right now, kerosene in all it's JP-5, JP-8, JP-9 versions is a tiny fraction (under 7% last time I looked at charts) product of our global refineries. Global refineries. American refineries run about 12% of their total crude intake to kerosene.
What this means is, if the entire "western" world moved to nuclear power as their primary electrical supply source, we would have more than enough "natrural gas" to supply our aviation needs for...hell....I don't know. Given growth in India and China, I would easily guess beyond 2050.
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nuclear powered aircraft?
Ugh, every accident would turn into a ecological nightmare.
. Come to think of it though, I do remember hearing that the SR-71 used liquid hydrogen as its fuel source (becuase its combustion properties were desirable at Mach3), but is hampered by its low density, a cubic meter of liquid H2 only holds 70kg of fuel iirc.
Hmm... maybe they could run on ethanol made from plants like some cars can now...:hmm: