VZLU has prepared together with PBS Velká Bíteš a proposal for an international RTD project. The project acronym is ESPOSA (Efficient Systems and Propulsion for Small Aircraft). The proposal for the project was submitted for the 4th call of the 7th Framework Program of EU to get the EC funding.
On 11-12 October 2011 at the Institute of Aviation in Warsaw there will be a meeting of project participants ESPOSA.
The goal of this project is to develop and integrate novel engine components for a range of small gas turbine engines up to approx. 1000 kW and to develop new lean manufacture technologies. The project will also deal with engine related systems which will contribute to the overall propulsion unit efficiency, safety and pilot workload reduction. The new engine systems and engine technologies gained from ESPOSA should deliver 10-14% reduction in direct operating costs (DOC). The ESPOSA project plans to deliver better GTE engine affordability and reduction of direct operating costs through the development of advanced concepts for key engine components, development of lean manufacture technologies and modern engine systems improving engine overall efficiency.
Research work comprises performance improvements of key engine components, their improved manufacture in terms of costs and quality. New engine component technologies will be backed by novel modern electronic engine control based on COTS (Component off-the-shelf), pioneering the engine health monitoring for small engines and providing advanced, more electric solutions for fuel and propeller control systems. The project also addresses problematic design areas connected with turboprop/turboshaft engine installation into airframe structure, including the use of composite materials. The work will be conducted taking into account particulars of different aircraft configurations.
A consortium of 39 companies from 15 European and non-European countries will participate in the project. The key element for their participation is their willingness to devote their research and technological effort to small aircraft sector. The consortium consists of stable industrial companies and renowned research organizations and universities, more than a third of participants belong to SMEs. A Czech company, PBS Velká Bíteš, will be the coordinator of the project with an administrative assistance from Aeronautical Research and Test Institute (VZLU), which already has experience with coordination of similar project in terms of budget and number of participants from FP6 (the CESAR project).
