Very High Altitude Aircraft Propulsion Engines

Vaporcor has been developing an engine technology that enables a means to implement a Humphrey thermodynamic cycle. In this SBIR, we propose an innovative technical concept and an aggressive business development plan that will take advantage of Vaporcor’s unique engine technology and exploit Vaporcor’s existing strategic partnership for the development of a technology base that will enable very high altitude aircraft (VHALE) and will advance HALE platforms. In Phase I, we propose to not only to perform the expected feasibility study for a very high altitude (~90 kft) aircraft propulsion engine capable of meeting the stability, reliability, and environmental requirements suitable for use on an VHALE aircraft with 12-20 hour endurance that must be stored for months, we propose to build a prototype engine and perform feasibility demonstrations of this engine’s capability within the schedule of Phase I. If this engine proves acceptable to DARPA, in Phase II we will build a flight article of this engine in conjunction with our partnering VHALE company.