On Could 16, 2024, Normal Atomics Aeronautical Programs, Inc. (GA-ASI) accomplished sturdiness testing for its new 200-horsepower heavy gas 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 mills from Normal Atomics Electromagnetic Programs (GA-EMS), is designed to convey the engine and all ancillary parts to 2,500 hours between scheduled overhauls and vastly enhance maintenance-free operational durations.
“Our HFE 2.0 engine is now the perfect heavy gas engine in aviation,” mentioned GA-ASI President David R. Alexander. “Hats off to our Inner Analysis and Growth group 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 gas engines and parts.”
The ultimate sturdiness check simulated a full 2,500-hour engine life working the very best flight hundreds that would ever be seen within the area. The check included situations 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 situations.
The HFE 2.0 engine is being thought-about by the U.S. Military to grow 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 also be the cornerstone of the modernized Grey Eagle 25M (GE 25M) UAS at the moment 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 world 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 mills, which can dramatically cut back area upkeep and with the identical Measurement, Weight, and Energy (SWaP) of the prevailing brushed generator, will ship over 50 % extra electrical energy for brand 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.
