Ford Engine Powers New Boeing UAV
Boeing's work on a high-altitude, long-endurance UAV has moved forward with a successful four-day test of a hydrogen-fuelled engine, including three days at a simulated altitude of 65,000 feet. Teammates include Aurora Flight Sciences, providing the high-altitude test facility at Manassas, VA, and - revealed for the first time - Ford Research and Advanced Engineering.
Ford has developed a multi-stage-turbocharged engine - based on the engine used in the Ford Fusion - for Boeing's UAV project. Boeing is looking at a military HALE with a seven-day-plus endurance and a 2,000-pound payload; Aurora is working on its single-engine Orion HALL (High Altitude Long Loiter) both as an engine test platform and as a research vehicle.
Using an automotive engine makes sense. In-service small aircraft engines are almost all air-cooled, which is a headache in the stratosphere, and are based on very old designs. Auto engines use more modern materials. Meanwhile, the ability of an internal combustion engine to operate at very high altitude, given sufficient turbo boost, has been proven in multiple programs, including Boeing's own groundbreaking Condor.
This article first appeared on Aviation Week’s Ares weblog. Read the rest of the story HERE.
-- Aviation Week
Post a comment
We offer Packages: popular tibet tour packages, Tibet adventure Travel Packages,Tibet tours of all kinds.We can also customize your tour in tibet. please browse our carefully designed and choose one which fits your time and budget or simply click here to tell us what you want and we will design a unique tibet travel for you. which will speed up economic development travel to tibet the tibet railway will not only bring about tibet trekking a significant change of the mystical view of the outside world to tibet map, but will also create a better cognition of the Tibetan people by the outside world.tibet tour guide will be provided with a great deal of useful information such as maps of tibet, weather forecasts, photos, history, culture notes and travel tips. Our website and tour guide will help you become a very knowledgeable,Want to go to Tibet tour? You can rely on us!We are offering tibet tours in great discount,
Posted by: asdasd at September 11, 2008 01:57 AM