Researchers have been working on designing and fabricating micro-air-vehicles (MAVs), flying robots the size of small insects, but always come up against the difficulty of creating a tiny, lightweight aircraft capable of carrying a payload and being powered by a long-life onboard power source. Continue reading
Category Archives: Aircraft Propulsion & Energy
10 Hour Flight for Fuel Cell UAS
EnergyOr Technologies Inc., a developer of advanced proton exchange membrane (PEM) fuel cell systems, recently demonstrated a long endurance flight of more than 10 hours with its fuel cell powered, operational unmanned aircraft.
World’s First All Electric 4 Seater
Unveiled at the Oshkosh Airventure event this summer, Pipistrel’s new, twin-fuselage, 75-foot wingspan plane is powered by only a 145-kilowatt brushless electric motor mounted, very non-traditionally, between two passenger pods.
US Navy Completes Successful Test Flight of Bio Fuel
The US Navy has completed a successful test flight of an MH-60 Seahawk flown with a 50/50 blend of algae-based and petroleum-based jet fuels.
Pratt & Whitney EcoPower Engine Wash Trials Success
Pratt & Whitney has completed a trial run of its EcoPower engine wash on U.S. Navy Sikorsky SH-60 Seahawks. Testing was held at Naval Base Coronado, Calif., and was the first military test of the product.
Ultra Electronics Fuel Cell Quadruples Small UAS Endurance
Ultra Electronics has confirmed providing a new fuel cell that quadrupled the range of a conventionally-powered Lockheed Martin Stalker UAS.
Northwest Engines Get Lighter, Quieter and More Power
Wolverine 3 HP Heavy Fuel Engine
Oregon-based, family-run Northwest UAV Propulsion Systems is developing a suite of technologies to boost the performance and lighten the load for small unmanned aircraft systems.
Composite Horizons to Supply Exhaust Ducts for Predator C Avenger
Composites Horizons, a provider of composite tooling and composite products for space components, aircraft manufacturing and medical equipment, has announced that General Atomics Aeronautical Systems (GA-ASI) has selected the company for producing an exhaust duct for the Predator C Avenger .