High thrust in small package

Main picture: Subsonex experimental personal jet with PBS TJ100 engine. Inset: new TJ150 jet engine

Since producing its first small jet engine in 2003, Czech company První brněnská strojírna Velká Bíteš a.s. (PBS, Stand 01-B43) has expanded its product portfolio, which now includes jet, turboprop and turboshaft engines, and auxiliary power units for small aircraft, helicopters and unmanned aerial vehicles. Other products are environmental control systems for aircraft and helicopters, high-speed gearboxes and cryogenics. The company has branch offices in China, Russia and the USA.

The most recent introductions of jet engines, in 2018, were the 900N thrust TJ80, and the 1,500N TJ150. The TJ80 does not have a separate oil system and is lubricated by an admixture of oil in the fuel. This design decreases the frontal diameter, which is only 235mm, and weight of the engine (1.98kg) and allows it to start in any position, including in flight.

According to PBS, the main advantages of the new TJ150, presented for the first time at Airshow China last November, is its excellent thrust to weight ratio, compact design, low power consumption, built-in starter generator and in-flight starting.

It weighs just 9.6kg and has a diameter of only 272mm. Its maximum operating altitude is 10,000m.

These latest additions now form part of a five-strong jet engine range from 230N to 1,500N.