Engines
Zuri Selects Rotax Piston Engine for Hybrid VTOL Freighter
EdgePerformance has modified the Rotax 912 ULS to act as a generator
Rotax 912 ULS piston engine
EdgePerformance has produced a modified Rotax 912 ULS piston engine to serve as a generator for Zuri's hybrid-electric cargo drone. © Zuri/EdgePerformance

Zuri has selected Norway’s EdgePerformance to provide the engine for the latest technology demonstrator of its hybrid-electric uncrewed VTOL cargo aircraft. On October 13, the Czech start-up announced it will use a heavily modified version of the Rotax 912 ULS piston engine that its partner has adapted to drive the generator for the powertrain of the aircraft, which is set to start flight testing in early 2027.

The engine has already run on an idle setting at Zuri’s Prague headquarters, and testing will ramp up after it is displayed at the Future Forces Exhibition & Forum in the Czech capital next week. The configuration EdgePerformance developed contains no components restricted under the International Traffic in Arms Regulations (ITAR), giving Zuri flexibility in potential applications and customers for its aircraft.

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