Schiebel tests heavy fuel engine for S-100

Schiebel has completed testing of a new heavy fuel engine (HFE) for the Camcopter S-100 UAS, the company announced on 14 November, in response to demand from the military and civil maritime sectors.

The HFE has been adapted from a commercially available rotary engine core.

According to the company, the new engine has not affected the operational performance of the Camcopter S-100, with the UAV retaining its standard 6 hour endurance with full operational payload and optional 10 hour endurance with an auxiliary fuel tank.  

The installation has been designed to retain backwards compatibility with the existing gasoline engine, in order to allow customers the maximum flexibility with fuel choice and the broadest operational capability within a multi-fuel environment. The new heavy fuel engine can accommodate JP-5 (F-44), Jet A-1 (F-35) and JP-8 (F-34).

As part of the redesign weight savings have also been identified with new batteries, an upgraded exhaust system and a new engine control unit to manage the fuel flow and engine power output. 

Chris Day, head of capability, Schiebel, said: ‘The Camcopter S-100 customers demand an HFE able to operate across all climatic environments, from the coldest Arctic areas to the hottest desserts. There are many variables associated with the reliable use of heavy fuel that make these conditions especially challenging; such as variation in fuel quality. Demand for an HFE remains strongest with our naval customers and so we have spent considerable time developing this new engine to meet the operational requirements and reducing the cost of maintenance.’