On Might 16, 2024, Normal Atomics Aeronautical Techniques, Inc. (GA-ASI) accomplished sturdiness testing for its new 200-horsepower heavy gasoline engine at its El Mirage, California, flight facility. The Heavy Gasoline Engine (HFE) 2.0, that includes a new GA-ASI-designed gear field and twin brushless turbines from Normal Atomics Electromagnetic Techniques (GA-EMS), is designed to deliver the engine and all ancillary elements to 2,500 hours between scheduled overhauls and tremendously improve maintenance-free operational intervals.
“Our HFE 2.0 engine is now the very best heavy gasoline engine in aviation,” mentioned GA-ASI President David R. Alexander. “Hats off to our Inside Analysis and Improvement crew whose ingenuity and technical sophistication impressed the HFE 2.0 program, permitting us to develop a extra dependable and sturdy engine that additionally addresses diminishing manufacturing sources for aviation heavy gasoline engines and elements.”
The ultimate sturdiness take a look at simulated a full 2,500-hour engine life working the very best flight masses that would ever be seen within the area. The take a look at included circumstances simulating 1,250 full energy take-offs and climbs to high-cruising altitude, and over 200 hours of cruise in a worst-case generator loading circumstances.
The HFE 2.0 engine is being thought of by the U.S. Military to turn out to be the fleet substitute for the present 180-horsepower engine used on GA-ASI’s Grey Eagle Prolonged Vary (GE ER) Unmanned Plane System (UAS). HFE 2.0 can be the cornerstone of the modernized Grey Eagle 25M (GE 25M) UAS presently being produced below a U.S. Military-funded program to help future Multi-Area Operations (MDO) UAS missions.
GA-ASI and its affiliate Normal Atomics Europe partnered with international leaders in high-performance engines — supported by propulsion know-how innovator Cosworth — to develop an engine with elevated horsepower, sturdiness, and reliability. GA-ASI additionally introduced in GA-EMS to design and construct the engine’s twin brushless turbines, which is able to dramatically cut back area upkeep and with the identical Dimension, Weight, and Energy (SWaP) of the present brushed generator, will ship over 50 p.c extra electrical energy for brand spanking new payloads and mission capabilities.
Remaining 150-hour qualification testing is scheduled to be accomplished in September adopted by certification from the U.S. Military.