Randle is lead design consultancy on UAV project

Warwick-based Randle Engineering Ltd, a British engineering consultancy, has been engaged to support Certo Aerospace Technologies Ltd, located in Somerset, with the development of the larger variants and heavy fuel (HF) versions of Capstone, its heavy-lift uncrewed-helicopter, which is currently in its third year of flight trials under CAA authorisation.

Capstone is a coaxial twin-rotor aircraft that Certo says is more efficient and scalable by design than other traditional helicopters and multi-rotors. Capable of carrying 300kg of payload, the prototypes have been tested in various Ministry of Defence flight trials, and Certo is now collaborating with BAE Systems in a new competitive tender for the forthcoming multi-year MoD programme, Project NYX.

Randle Engineering is working on various areas of development aimed at ‘preserving and expanding the optimal ratio of payload mass to maximum take-off weight, which is already at 50%. The Randle team is contributing to the design of the aerodynamic airframe structures, HF engine integration, and driveline systems.

Cutting-edge project
Ally McMahon, Randle Engineering’s CEO, said: “This type of cutting-edge project is perfect for our team, given our track record in innovation across the automotive and aerospace sectors. Our approach to engineering is firmly based on first principles. We solve new challenges like this with a clean sheet of paper, rather than trying to adapt off-the-shelf concepts that may be wholly unsuitable.

“With two contra-rotating main rotors on top, and no tail rotor, Capstone’s form factor not only reaps a significant energy advantage but also makes the overall length of the aircraft at least 33% smaller than a conventional helicopter of the same lift capability. Another advantage of this modular design includes that it allows for rapid re-rolling across a multiplicity of roles.”

Justin Tooth, Certo Aerospace’s CEO, concluded: “Having Randle Engineering as our lead design consultancy on these highly challenging and specialised areas of our development pathway has proved a significant boost to our rate of progress. The Randle engineers bring excellent experience in design and project management that are highly complementary to our own.”