The Navy needs a small, self-contained, lightweight system for starting E-2D T56 engines to allow for remote field operations. We propose to develop a Rocket Fuel Starter (RFS) to meet Navy needs. Our RFS uses a liquid-fuel rocket engine to drive a turbine that generates shaft power to start the T56 engine. We project our RFS will fit in available spaces and will weigh significantly less than 200 lbm. In Phase I, we will generate an initial design of our RFS and compare our RFS design to existing solutions, in terms of Navy metrics. In Phase II, we will develop and deliver to the Navy a prototype RFS and demonstrate our RFS in a representative environment. In Phase III, we will deliver to the Navy a production representative RFS system that can be integrated onto an E-2D aircraft platform for aircraft-level testing. We will also sell our RFS for many other government and private-sector applications that require a starter that can produce high power with a compact and lightweight machine.
Benefit: The compact, lightweight, and high-power features of our Rocket Fuel Starter (RFS) make our RFS attractive for starting many government and private-sector turbo-shaft and turbo-fan engines and other engine types. The Navy needs a small, self-contained, lightweight system for starting E-2D T56 engines and allow for remote field operations. Currently, the E-2D has a documented deficiency: the inability to start the aircrafts engines without the use of external equipment. A standard ground start for an E-2D requires a huffer and power cart plus qualified equipment operators. The huffer provides high-pressure air to turn the aircraft mounted Air Turbine Starter (ATS) which in turn provides the energy required to start the aircraft engines. The demands for support equipment and qualified personnel limit the ability of the E-2D to operate remotely. The E-2D is constrained operationally in its selection of forward operating bases or divert fields. In addition, with the coming retirement of the EA-6B, the E-2 will be the only carrier aircraft using the huffer cart. Our Rocket Fuel Starter (RFS) is an attractive small, self-contained, lightweight system for starting E-2D T56 engines and allow for remote field operations. Our RFS uses a liquid-fuel rocket engine to drive a turbine that generates shaft power to start the T56 engine. We project our RFS will fit in available spaces and will weigh significantly less than 200 lbm.
Keywords: E-2D, E-2D, Rocket-Powered, T-56, Self-Start, Lightweight, remote, small, Engine Starter
