Aircraft

UK company RCV Engines has been selected to produce a demonstrator heavy-fuel engine, based on its patented rotating cylinder valve (RCV) technology, for Honeywell's backpack-sized micro air vehicle (MAV).

The 60cc-capacity engine is expected to deliver about 4.2hp (3.1kW) at 8,200rpm using JP8 fuel. "It is drawing on the multiple fuel tolerance, high power-to-weight ratio and high-speed capability of the RCV engine concept," says the company.

The four-stroke engine has a cylinder that rotates around a conventional piston at half crankshaft speed, its single port passing fixed inlet and exhaust ports as it rotates. Privately owned RCV makes a range of model-aircraft engines, and has been developing prototype JP8-fuelled unmanned air vehicle engines with funding from the US Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA).

The vertical take-off and landing MAV is being developed under a DARPA technology demonstration programme for use with the US Army's Future Combat System.