Engine Development Program for the APL Remotely Piloted Vehicle

Performance of a custom-built (Sakert-Riggs) two-cylinder glow plug engine for use in the APL Remotely Piloted Vehicle was tested. Output power was less than expected, and plans to modify the engine to increase its power were foiled because of the early discovery of a structural weakness that showed...

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Bibliographic Details
Main Author: Small,T. R
Format: Report
Language:English
Subjects:
Fuel consumption
Fuels
Glow plug ignition
Glow plugs
Internal combustion engines
Performance(Engineering)
Pilotless Aircraft
Plugs
Power measurement
Reciprocating and Rotating Engines
Remotely piloted vehicles
Spark ignition
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Summary:Performance of a custom-built (Sakert-Riggs) two-cylinder glow plug engine for use in the APL Remotely Piloted Vehicle was tested. Output power was less than expected, and plans to modify the engine to increase its power were foiled because of the early discovery of a structural weakness that showed up in every unit tested. An alternate engine was then developed, based on a low-cost proven design (McCulloch) that had been in quantity production for a number of years. This engine showed higher peak power and weighs more, but requires less than one-fourth the fuel at cruise power, primarily because it uses spark plug ignition with gasoline rather than glow plug ignition with methanol. Late in the test program, another brand (Kolbo) custom-built two-cylinder glow plug engine was introduced. Limited testing showed it to be a satisfactory, lightweight, but fuel-hungry engine. (Author)