Taiwan may develop a vertical take-off and landing unmanned air vehicle (VTUAV) based on an indigenous light helicopter that made its debut last year.
The Chung Shan Institute of Science and Technology (CSIST) proposes selling the Humming-Bird VTUAV to Taiwan's army. Project manager Gene Ho says a proof-of-concept study has been completed using data from test flights of its two-seat helicopter, previously known as the Eagle 600. CSIST's aeronautical systems research division is also drawing on its earlier experience in developing a fixed-wing UAV.
The 810kg (1,770lb) Eagle 600, initially developed for the civil helicopter market, made its debut flight last August (Flight International, 26 August-1 September 2003). But Ho says the helicopter has since flown only twice because of limited funding. Hoped-for sales to local operators have not materialised.
"The government will not allow us to sell the commercial helicopter before we get US certification. So, we are trying to develop the VTUAV and sell to the military," Ho says.
Industry sources say a sale to the army will be difficult and the programme is in danger of being cancelled at the end of this year. Funding that was provided by Taiwan's ministry of economic affairs from 2001 expired at the end of 2003, following a late December basic performance flight test at 50kt (90km/h) and 200ft (60m). Attempts to find a local company to take over and fund the project have so far failed.
"Unfortunately, we have only got a limited budget to continue development of the VTUAV," says Ho.
Source: Flight International
