The goal of the new generation suburban means of transport will be to combine the characteristics of V/STOL together with high cruising speed allowing to provide fast transport in densely populated areas and between them.

The gyrodyne RACER (high-speed hybrid helicopter) from Airbus Helicopters, designed with the experience gained by the Eurocopter helicopter demonstrator has in addition to the classic rotor also side wings with lateral pusher propellers. This arrangement allows to take off and land vertically, but also to reach a speed of more than 400 km / h.

The MUTR project (Multipurpose Test Rig), with the VZLU as project coordinator, is focused on the development of a test rig modification for the main gearbox of the newly developed gyrodyne RACER. The main gearbox is a key device in the drive of the gyrodyne, as it transmits power from the two turbo shaft engines to the main rotor and to the side pusher propellers.

The aim of the project MUTR is the modification of the test rig in order to testing of gyrodyne main gearbox while maintaining the ability to test newly designed conventional helicopter reducers. During the development of the RACER project, the requirements of the test rig gradually increased, which was also reflected in the development. At the end, the test rig is a powerful device that allows to test not only the normal travel modes, but also all emergency and overload conditions to which the main gyrodyne reducer may be exposed in operation.

The developed system contains a unique hydraulic torquer, a specially developed device that allows experimental verification of the properties of advanced hybrid drives with low energy consumption.

"The project has confirmed our design capabilities, ability of development and implementation of sophisticated test systems in aerospace applications, and it also proved our ability to apply advanced automated control, measurement and data acquisition technologies. The practical use of proven knowledge and know-how is oriented mainly to aerospace sector, but there is the possibility of wider application in other technical fields. The key feature of the design is the testing simplicity, high energy efficiency of the equipment and readiness to perform various types of test assignments. In addition, the design enables the expansion of the equipment's capabilities with regard to the customer's further needs.” Adds project manager Petr Pick from VZLU.

The project is being solved within the joint technological initiative Clean Sky 2,together 40 participants from 13 countries are participating in the development. The goal of VZLU is to apply the results not only within the CS2 Racer project, but also to offer a test rig for further development, for example, to domestic manufacturers of aircraft propulsion units.

The Czech Aerospace Research Centre (VZLU) has been accepted as a member of the Association of European Space Research Establishments (ESRE). Close cooperation within the European space establishments means a possibility to actively participate on European´s space future.

The Association of European Space Research Establishments focuses on the coordination and integration of space-related research activities. The Association focuses mainly on European industry and seeks to intensify the cooperation of its members with third parties in the field of space. Its aim is to increase the global competitiveness of the European space sector.

We are coming back to the association after 5 years. Many things have been changed, but we are still the engineers from Hlubočky - who do top engineering. Look at our profile and learn more.

SpaceLab EU and the Czech Aerospace Research Centre (VZLU) have entered into a partnership under which they will, over the next five years, work together to develop and commercialize a unique air-breathing ion propulsion engine that allows satellites to maintain their position on a very low orbit. The engine thrust is created by accelerating the residual atmosphere of the Earth and no longer needs any other fuel. The project of the new engine type is a response to increased users' demand for the small-satellite fleets operation and improvement of the economy of their operations, including prolonging their service life.

The uniqueness of the joint project is increased by the fact that it is a unique opportunity globally to make very low orbits accessible to satellite traffic. The benefits of operating on a very low orbit are obvious both in the field of communications – significantly lower latency (signal delay) compared to the present situation and lower transmitter power requirements, and in the field of visual monitoring of the Earth – significantly more accurate and clearer pictures. The value of the joint development is in millions of EUR. The commercial potential is expected in hundreds of millions of euros. The prospects are expected to be the future commercial operators of small-satellite fleets as well as military users.

The teams of both companies are working together on the project at VZLÚ premises in Prague, where both computer simulations and experimental hardware are being born. The teams have there all the necessary laboratory equipment, including new clean rooms necessary for experimentation and preparation of the engineering model, which will then be tested in space.

Czech Aerospace Research Centre (VZLU) and MT Aerospace (MTA) signed an agreement for the development and qualification testing of parts for the new European launcher ARIANE 6. VZLU will collaborate on design and analysis of metallic parts of the new European launcher and will perform qualification testing of the ESR Rear Skirt – the structural part that carries the whole launcher on the launch pad during preparation for the launch.

„Involvement in the ARIANE 6 program is an important opportunity for the VZLU to use its existing experience from projects for the European Space Agency but also to extend our experience in this field.” Says Radek Lapáček, the VZLU ARIANE 6 Project Manager.
VZLU currently finalizes the design of the test rig which must be able to simulate not only the loadings of the ESR Rear Skirt structure both on the ground and during lift-off but also the stiffness of the surrounding structures – Launch pad pallet and the CFRP body of the ESR (Equipped Solid Rocket motor).

The beginning of the ESR Rear Skirt testing is planned for the summer 2019 and it will last for one year. The rocket will be prepared for the first launch in July 2020.

On 5th November the Czech nanosatellite VZLUSAT-1 celebrates 500 days on the orbit. During its mission, the satellite has been collecting the data for the earth radiation research and testing performance of the new Czech composite material for space use.

Nanosatellite VZLUSAT-1 was developed by the Czech Aerospace Research Centre (VZLU) in collaboration with other Czech companies and universities. It carries onboard a miniaturized X-ray telescope, and FIPEX instrument for measuring oxygen concentration in the atmosphere. During its mission it also tests a newly developed radiation shield made of composite materials. The satellite is built on a standard CubeSat 2U platform with dimensions 20 x 10 x 10 cm and weighs 2 kg.

One of the main benefits of the project for VZLU is the ability to assemble the whole satellite in the Czech Republic. Vladimir Dániel from VZLU notes:

"The mission helped us to verify a number of procedures we can now benefit from in more advanced projects. 500 days on orbit also means that the satellite has shown above-average lifetime in its category. VZLUSAT-1 managed to perform measurements at the same level as much larger and more expensive satellites, this puts our mission to the world's top class. In addition, tested radiation shield from composite materials made by the Czech company 5M shown very good results."

The satellite orbits at 500 km with the speed of 7610 m/s. It was launched to orbit within the QB50 international mission on June 23, 2017, and was put to full operation on 2 August 2017. VZLUSAT-1 Webpage: http://vzlusat1.cz/en/

VZLUSAT-1 has been built in collaboration with Rigaku Innovative Technologies Europe, HVM PLASMA, ÚTEF ČVUT, 5M, TTS, Innovative Sensor Technology and FEL ZČU.

GE Aviation’s Advanced Turboprop engine, the first clean-sheet turboprop engine to hit the Business and General Aviation (BGA) market in more than 30 years, successfully completed its first engine test run at GE Aviation’s facility in Prague, Czech Republic, on Friday (December 22).
“Running the Advanced Turboprop engine this year was our biggest and most important goal,” said Brad Mottier, vice president and general manager of GE Aviation's BGA and Integrated Systems organization. “This milestone comes as a result of two years of tremendous effort by a worldwide team. We’re developing a real catalyst for the BGA market and we’re executing on plan. The integration of proven technologies has expedited the design, development and certification cycle of the engine.”
The Advanced Turboprop engine will begin certification testing in 2018. The engine will power Textron Aviation’s new Cessna Denali, which is expected to fly in late 2018. By the time the Denali enters into service, the engine will have completed more than 2000 hours of testing.

Supported by the Ministry of Industry and Trade the Czech Aerospace Industry took part at the MAKS, International Aviation and Space Salon held at the Ramenskoye Airfield in Zhukovsky. The official Czech participation enabled the Czech aerospace companies to present themselves as an inseparable part of key Czech industries and to demonstrate their still retained ability to design, develop and manufacture complete aircraft. This has been proved by flight demonstrations of the significantly modernized L 410 NG aircraft from the Aircraft Industries Company.

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První brněnská strojírna Velká Bíteš a. s., the renowned manufacturer of high-speed turbine machinery for the aerospace, power and transportation industries, has won a contest entitled Podnikatelský projekt roku 2014 (Entrepreneurial Project of the Year for 2014). It was awarded first place in the Innovation category for innovating production of the TP 100 turboprop engine for aviation.

The Entrepreneurial Project of the Year contest, organized annually by CzechInvest in cooperation with the Ministry of Industry and Trade of the Czech Republic, evaluates the best investor projects financially supported by EU structural funds and the state budget. The Minister for Industry and Trade, Jan Mládek, took personal patronage of the event.
The project pertaining to První brněnská strojírna Velká Bíteš (PBS) was praised by the jury, made up of representatives from the CzechInvest business development agency, the Ministry of Industry and Trade and evaluators from a group of experts. The assessors particularly took into account the fact that PBS, with the help of European subsidies, had put its own prototype of the TP 100 turboprop engine for aviation into production. The CEO of PBS, Milan Macholán (Ing.), said that: "We are incredibly grateful for this award, which recognises our research endeavours supported by EU structural funds and the Czech national budget; it is for us, and I believe also for other Czech entrepreneurs, an incentive to go ahead and make further efforts and progress. It is our belief that the TP 100 engine shall find widespread adoption worldwide, and this prize will be of great help to this end".
The TP 100 is a turboprop engine boasting an output of 180 kW and a total weight of 61.6 kg. It is based on the proven TJ 100 turbojet engine, which in this configuration acts like a gas generator, driving the free turbine and – via the propeller gear – a three-blade propeller at a constant speed (2158 rpm). It is mounted in piloted aircraft with 1-4 seats and unmanned aerial vehicles.
The opinion of the CEO of CzechInvest, Karel Kučera, is that investor projects for Czech entrepreneurs deserve support, as they bring about improvement in the quality of products and ensure success. "Therefore, over 132 billion crowns have been allocated for similar projects in the new Operational Programme Enterprise and Innovation for Competitiveness," he stated.

PBS is a comprehensive engineering manufacturer that designs and produces aerospace technology and provides precision castings, hi-tech machining of metals, galvanic coatings and the assembly of machines.

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A BUSINESS INCUBATOR OF THE FUTURE – a hatchery of new projects including but not limited to the Avionics branch

A unique project, the UNIS Science and Technology Park (VTP UNIS), was successfully launched in the summer of 2015 in Brno.
Helping start-up companies, the VTP is ready to provide offices equipped with the latest technology as well as state-of-the-art test laboratory services for equipment including but not limited to the Avionics branch.
The building, thanks to its complex and precise architectural design, offers a total net internal area of 9.500 m². The total capacity is 380 working spaces.

Modern laboratories and offices
The VTP UNIS consists of two buildings providing renters with a conference hall, a training office on each floor and high-tech offices.
The renters can take advantage of the Electromagnetic Compatibility (EMC) Test laboratory and the Mechanical Resistance and Climatic Test laboratory. Moreover, as the only test laboratory in the Czech Republic it offers a HALT /HASS chamber. HALT (Highly Accelerated Life Tests) enable to detect weak points of the design in the course of the development with the aim to increase product reliability and to find its operational and destructive limits. HASS (Highly Accelerated Stress Screen) Tests allow defect detection during the production phase, decreasing appliance failure rates in normal operation.

From the design up to the final product
The renters can use a mechanical workshop. The workshop is equipped with SW for the design and 3D modelling of mechanical constructions, with complete equipment for the production as well as testing of the designed units.
The workshop is equipped with a CNC milling machine, a 3D printer and a 3D coordinate measuring machine.
Last but not least, we offer prototype and small-series production of electric devices, including PCB population, assembly and product testing (manual or automated). Customers can also make use of a dry box for the long-term storage of electrical components.

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