Innovative Chinese UAVs appear, including a triple-engine platform
A large UAV from the Tengden Technology Company in China performed its maiden flight on 16 January, the platform being notable for the three turbocharged piston engines that power it.
The flight of the twin-boom airframe design occurred in southwest China, with Tengden based in Chengdu. The UAV’s configuration, based on the twin-engine TW328 or TB001 Twin-tailed Scorpion, sees two engines mounted under its wings and a third added at the rear.
An extra engine gives more power, thus allowing carriage of a higher payload and shorter take-offs, while also adding reliability in case of an engine failure. However, the
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