Affordable engines for small aircraft

A look into the new technologies developed for small-aircraft engines as extensions to the cooperative agreements under the NASA General Aviation Propulsion program conclude.

NASA has spent considerable resources over the last several years in the area of general aviation. The organization has initiated programs such as Advanced General Aviation Transport Experiments (AGATE) with the hope of promoting economic growth in the U.S.' general aviation industry. One such project, the General Aviation Propulsion (GAP) program at the NASA Glenn Research Center, has come to a close. The goal of the program was to make systems such as turbofan and piston engines more affordable to the industry. Such systems have been widely used on larger commercial aircraft, which are usually produced in lower volumes compared to general aviation and business aircraft. Two industry participants in the GAP program were Williams International and Teledyne Continental Motors (TCM). Under the program, Williams has developed the FJX-2 high-bypass-ratio turbofan engine. TCM has developed a jet-fueled diesel engine.

The FJX-2 produces 700 lb of thrust while weighing only 85-100 lb-about one-quarter the weight of piston engine propulsion systems with similar capabilities. While not as fuel efficient as today's comparable piston-powered aircraft, new turbofan jets are expected to have equivalent or lower takeoff-to-landing fuel consumption.