China’s Sunward Tech VTOL UAS Maiden Flight

This video* shows China’s Sunward Tech Star-lite SVU200 vertical take-off and landing unmanned aircraft during its maiden flight.

The video is compiled from segments of the first test-flights of the Heavy-Lift SVU200, designed and built by Mr. Dennis Fetters with help from Mr. James Luo and Mr. David Deng working for the Hunan Sunward Science and Technology Company in Hunan Changsha China.

The company believes that this is the world’s largest built RC helicopter; qualified as flown without assist from electronic stabilization. The SUV200 is not an existing helicopter converted to a UAS, but was designed from the ground up as a “large helicopter made small” and not a “small RC helicopter made big”, like most all other UAS helicopters to date. All parts were specifically designed and built for this project and are unique, using custom-made geared transmissions and tail-rotor drive shafts. Therefore the SVU200 has the same construction as a full-size manned helicopter, along with the same reliability and longevity as a full-size manned helicopter.

The Star-Lite SVU200 is powered by a Rotax 582 engine using the special Fetters-designed PEP (Power Enhancement Package) exhaust system, enabling the engines power to be increase from its normal 65 to 78 horsepower. The SVU200 is capable of lifting up to 200kg of payload and fly at a top speed of 209km/hr. The SUV200 has two internal payload bays, one in the nose and one in the rear of the aircraft, and is also equipped with hard-points and capable of hauling sling-loads, or carry an external cargo/payload pod, and even extended-range tanks with extra fuel for longer mission capabilities.

The SVU200 has now been approved to begin full autonomous flight testing by Sunwards President and CEO, Mr. He Qing Hua.

At the Aviation Expo/China 2011 last September in Beijing, Fetters told Flightglobal the aircraft has an endurance of up to 2.6 hours at its cruising speed of 177kmh. Fetters said the aircraft was designed to monitor power-lines, but SVU200 promotional material depicts it equipped with 18 rocket tubes and a chin-mounted electro optical/infra-red sensor. Sunward said the SVU200 has a “maximum useful load” of 244kg. Fetters is a freelance American UAS designer who resides in China.

Sunward plans to sell two units and a ground control station for yuan (CNY) 10 million ($1.6 million). The aircraft can carry a range of weapons and sensors and has two small internal storage compartments.

At the Beijing show a number of of indigenous VTOL UAS were displayed, most of them developed by Chinese technical institutions, ostensibly for commercial purposes. One of the UAS at the show, the YOTAISC X200, was also on static display at the exhibition hall of the Singapore Airshow 2012.

The X200 has a maximum payload of 100kg and two contra-rotating main rotors.

* Beware loud music !

Sources: Flight Global, YouTube