On Might 16, 2024, Basic Atomics Aeronautical Methods, 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 mills from Basic Atomics Electromagnetic Methods (GA-EMS), is designed to convey the engine and all ancillary elements to 2,500 hours between scheduled overhauls and enormously improve maintenance-free operational intervals.
“Our HFE 2.0 engine is now the perfect heavy gasoline engine in aviation,” stated GA-ASI President David R. Alexander. “Hats off to our Inner Analysis and Growth workforce 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 check simulated a full 2,500-hour engine life working the very best flight masses that might ever be seen within the subject. 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 of by the U.S. Military to grow to be the fleet alternative 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 at present being produced underneath a U.S. Military-funded program to help future Multi-Area Operations (MDO) UAS missions.
GA-ASI and its affiliate Basic Atomics Europe partnered with international leaders in high-performance engines — supported by propulsion expertise 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 is able to dramatically cut back subject upkeep and with the identical Measurement, Weight, and Energy (SWaP) of the prevailing brushed generator, will ship over 50 p.c extra electrical energy for brand new payloads and mission capabilities.
Ultimate 150-hour qualification testing is scheduled to be accomplished in September adopted by certification from the U.S. Military.
