Rotron UAV Heavy Fuel Engine Begins Test Program

Rotron Power Ltd., a specialist manufacturer of advanced rotary engines for UAV applications, has taken a crucial step in preparing the RT600 HFE rotary engine for its first application-based test programme. The team has spent the last few days completing the complex installation of the heavy fuel derivative into the test mule at the firm’s UK based facility.

Over the coming days, the Rotron team will perform pre-testing on all engine components and ancillaries to ensure optimal configuration setup. Then, early tests on the engine will collect comparison data on the performance. Future developmental testing will centre on the new starter system that is currently being prototyped. Supported by data collected over an extensive pre-flight development program, these in-application tests are the next crucial step in Rotron’s heavy fuel engine technology for ongoing operational applications.

“This was a great step forward for our heavy fuel engine,” said Technical Director Alex Head. “Everything worked incredibly well. The team put in long days and nights to get the engine and new test mule ready for today, and the first results were outstanding. I could not have expected it to come together any better.”