Hermeus has successfully initiated testing of its exclusive precooler technology with the F100 engine, manufactured by Pratt & Whitney, an RTX business. The precooler enhances the turbine engine’s maximum speed by reducing the temperature of incoming air. This marks a significant propulsion achievement for Hermeus’ upcoming aircraft, Quarterhorse Mk 2, which will be equipped with this engine configuration.
The testing was conducted at Edwards Air Force Base under sea-level static conditions. The data gathered from these tests will provide valuable insights into the performance of the F100 engine with the Hermeus precooler across various loads. It will also pave the way for future testing involving heated air to simulate high-Mach flight conditions.
Hermeus’ revolutionary Chimera engine, a turbine-based combined cycle (TBCC) powerplant, seamlessly integrates turbine and ramjet technologies to enable airbreathing hypersonic propulsion across all speed ranges.
Operating as a turbine at low speeds, this cutting-edge engine smoothly transitions to ramjet mode at higher velocities. The advanced precooler significantly enhances turbine performance, bridging the gap between these operational modes.
According to Josh Goodman, Senior Director of the Pratt & Whitney F100 Program, the F100 engine, renowned for its exceptional reliability with over 30 million flight hours, is being further optimized by Hermeus to achieve unprecedented performance.
The Quarterhorse Mk 2 will be equipped with a precooler-F100 engine combination to achieve speeds exceeding Mach 2.5. The upcoming Quarterhorse Mk 3 will be powered by the entire Chimera engine, featuring a ramjet, and is expected to reach speeds nearing Mach 4. These advancements will pave the way for future Hermeus aircraft capable of flying at hypersonic speeds.
“Airbreathing engines are critical to Hermeus’ goal of operationalizing hypersonic aircraft,” said Hermeus Co-Founder and Chief Technologist Glenn Case. “By making a full-range, airbreathing hypersonic engine, Hermeus is setting the stage for aircraft that are capable of taking off from a regular runway and accelerating up to hypersonic speeds. No rockets or motherships required.”
