Unmanned Systems Technology 021 | Robot Aviation FX450 l Imaging Sensors focus l UAVs Insight l Liquid-Piston X-Mini l Riptide l Eurosatory 2018 show report l Zipline l Electric Motors focus l ASTS show report

primary structure. The wheel and brake assemblies bolt to the ends of the bow. The brakes are also applied by the operator; to keep the systems as simple and straightforward as possible they don’t have anti-skid capabilities. Flexible hydraulic lines wrapped in braided steel transmit pressure from an electrically actuated master cylinder in the fuselage to Beringer calipers that squeeze inboard discs. The braking system is sized for a much heavier aircraft and provides about double the braking power the FX450 actually needs. “When in doubt, oversize it,” Guy says. “The last thing I want to worry about on this aircraft is brake energy.” Aerodynamic braking also plays its part in slowing the FX450. The rudders in the winglets can be deployed outwards together to add drag on the approach, and fully deflected on the ground to add more before the wheel brakes take over. Motive power While the issue of stopping the FX450 has been solved, making it go is a little more complicated by the fact that Hirth, which supplied the engine that is fitted to the production-representative Wheels and brakes are oversized for the application to provide a good margin in terms of braking energy (Photo by the author)