2
Photo Info

Powervision GmbH to unveil new RPAS at Xponential 2016

3W International GmbH Press Release | May 2, 2016

Estimated reading time 5 minutes, 43 seconds.

Powervision GmbH will introduce its remotely piloted aircraft system (RPAS) Dragonfly DF M35 to the international professional public at Xponential 2016 in New Orleans. 3W International GmbH Photo
German remotely piloted aircraft system (RPAS) helicopter manufacturer Powervision GmbH is participating at leading trade show Xponential 2016 in New Orleans as part of a tradeshow co-operation with German engine manufacturer 3W International. The company will introduce its RPAS helicopter Dragonfly DF M35 to the international professional public at 3W International’s trade-show stand.
The people behind Powervision GmbH have been active in the RPAS scene for over 10 years. “So we know quite exactly what requirements are being imposed on RAPS helicopters in civilian applications,” said managing director Volker Jung. 
So Powervision GmbH, with headquarters north of Frankfurt am Main, specialized early on in the development, production and sales of RPAS. 
All of the helicopters are based on the Flettner intermeshing-rotor principle in which two rotors arranged in parallel are responsible for the helicopter’s upward and forward drive. A tail rotor is thereby rendered unnecessary. Flight behavior is very safe, quiet, and nearly vibration-free due to the missing tail rotor.
‘All of the models are developed and completely assembled in-house,” said Jung. “We partly reconstruct or further develop important components such as generators, when they don’t meet our technical needs.” 
Other components are adapted to the helicopters in close co-operation with the supplier. In this connection the Hessian company relies on German and European suppliers in order to guarantee the final product’s very high quality. This also applies to the drive among other things.
Both the Dragonfly DF T20 and the Dragonfly DF T50 are driven with turbines, which are rated at six kilowatt and 11 kilowatt respectively. This enables the Dragonfly DF T20 to transport 20 kilograms and the Dragonfly DF T50 50 kilograms at a maximum speed of 100 kilometres per hour. 
Flight time here is at most one hour. However, the Dragonfly DF T50 can also be operated in the air for a maximum of four hours with the help of auxiliary tanks.
A third model, the Dragonfly DF M35 is equipped with a two-cylinder boxer engine from 3W International. The Dragonfly DF M35 can transport at most 35 kilograms with a maximum speed of 100 kilometres per hour. 
As with the Dragonfly DF T50, the Dragonfly DF M35 can extend its deployment time to four hours with auxiliary tanks. The Dragonfly DF M35 is being introduced in the United States as part of Xponential 2016.
“Our helicopters are extremely robust and can carry more than their own weight,” said Jung. “Our helicopters are the ideal flying machines precisely when large loads have to be conveyed over a long time interval. 
“However, with the addition of auxiliary fuel tanks, our customers can also overfly a very large area. This capability is an important factor especially in agricultural operations. It’s essential that constant refuelling doesn’t interrupt the work when spraying large areas or difficult terrain such as vineyards.”
For this reason, Jung and his team are trying to permanently optimize the engines and turbines together with the drive manufacturers. There’s close co-operation with German engine manufacturer 3W International with regard to the engines in this connection.
“We’re aware that a long flight time has become very important in many commercial applications,” said Karsten Schudt, managing director or 3W International. “So we’re working closely together with our customers, such as Powervision. However, should one engine type eventually be maxed out, we can replace it with a different engine in our product range to provide the required performance.”
The agricultural area was certainly one of the Powervision’s primary markets from the outset. So Powervision is also offering spraying systems developed in-house in addition to helicopters. “Our customers are often seeking a holistic solution,” said Jung. “So we’ve decided to offer a complete system for this important target market.”
Meanwhile, word is out in other areas about the good flight characteristics of the helicopters from Hesse.
‘Our helicopters are used in flood water and erosion monitoring, coastal protection, and in explosives detection,” said Jung. “Moreover, [the] industry uses our systems to inspect oil-and-gas pipelines, high-voltage lines, wind turbines, photovoltaic systems, street networks, bridges, canals, and railway lines. 
“The helicopters are also deployed in surveying and cartography as well as for aerial photography. The areas of application are also extremely varied — just like our helicopters,” said Jung.

Leave a comment

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

HAI Heli-Expo 2024 Recap

Notice a spelling mistake or typo?

Click on the button below to send an email to our team and we will get to it as soon as possible.

Report an error or typo

Have a story idea you would like to suggest?

Click on the button below to send an email to our team and we will get to it as soon as possible.

Suggest a story