A Versatile Heli-UAV Program While perusing the many sights and sounds of the 2008 Heli-Expo, ANN's Aero-TV crews got a look at an intriguing helicopter-based UAV program with a number of missions applications and capabilities. Call the CybAero 'Vantage', this UAV is a vertical take-off and landing (VTOL) unmanned helicopter developed by US Naval Research Laboratory (NRL). With fully autonomous flight operation and differential GPS navigation, CybAero claims the Vantage can perform a wide variety of missions in both military and commercial applications. The Vantage is powered by a specially configured UEL 801 42-HP heavy-fuel (JP5, JP8, Jet A) rotary engine, utilizing an electrically driven ducted tail rotor, powered by an onboard starter/generator. This configuration saves weight and mechanical complexity. The overall fuselage length is 112 inches with a rotor diameter of 109 inches. CybAero utilizes a foldable tri-blade system making the Vantage HMMWV-transportable. It has a gross weight of 380 lb., and a payload capacity of 25–35 lb. The UAV has an estimated endurance of 3–5 hours with a top (dash) speed of 100 kts, along with a service ceiling of 8,000 feet. The concept was the brainchild of the US Naval Research Laboratory (NRL), while the Vantage project now continues as a collaboration between NRL and CybAero under a Cooperative Research and Development Agreement. NRL has in-depth experience in designing and developing UAV prototypes and has been conducting research in unmanned systems technologies since the mid 1970s. CybAero now holds the exclusive commercial rights for Vantage worldwide. In February 2008 the Vantage's first test flight, under the NRL/CybAero agreement, took place on a restricted range near NRL's Washington DC facility in the USA. This year, CybAero and the United States Naval Research Laboratory will be continuing the development and commercialization of the Vantage, with a market introduction currently scheduled for 2009. See What The CybAero Vantage Is 'Up' ...
