Category Archives: Aircraft Propulsion & Energy

China Plans Heavy Fuel Engine for CH-4 UAV Family

China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation (CASC) is developing a new variant of its Cai Hong 4 (Rainbow 4, or CH-4) armed reconnaissance medium-altitude long-endurance unmanned aerial vehicle (MALE UAV), which will feature an indigenously manufactured heavy fuel engine (HFE), company sources confirmed with Jane’s on 21 December. Continue reading →

Sky Power Presents Newly Developed SP-110 FI TS

Sky Power GmbH introduced itself to the specialist public for the first time at this year’s AUVSI Xponential in Denver. Since then a series of new engines has been developed for a wide variety of Unmanned Aerial System applications (UAS). Now, with the newly developed 110 ccm engine, SP-110 FI TS, a completely new engine concept is presented, which focuses squarely on performance- and fuel optimization, ease of maintenance and space saving. Continue reading →

Sky Power Intensifies Cooperation with Mejzlik Propeller

Due to the growing number of inquiries concerning complete drive units for Unmanned Aerial Systems (UAS), the German manufacturer of 2-stroke and Wankel engines, Sky Power GmbH, has intensified its cooperation with Mejzlik Propeller from the Czech Republic. The objective is the development of propellers coordinated individually to the engine and the customer application. Continue reading →

MIT Engineers Fly Plane with No Moving Parts

New MIT plane is propelled via ionic wind

MIT engineers have built and flown the first-ever plane with no moving parts. Instead of propellers or turbines, the light aircraft is powered by an “ionic wind” — a silent but mighty flow of ions that is produced aboard the plane, and that generates enough thrust to propel the plane over a sustained, steady flight. Continue reading →