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Our entire design approach is based on simple. As Leonardo Davinci said, “Simplicity is the ultimate sophistication.” But, in engineering, simple is hard and takes true innovation.
A shortcut approach is to make power by adding more and more parts and overall complexity. Taking complexity to the extreme is adding a Full Authority Digital Engine Controller, or FADEC. Many engines are so complex they need a FADEC to run.
FADECs require dual power sources, dual Engine Control Units, a myriad of sensors, such as crankshaft position sensors, Mass Air Flow sensors, pressure sensors, temperature sensors, flow sensors, and huge harnesses of cabling and connectors. They are usually used on engines with very high-pressure common rail fuel systems that have multiple single points of failure. That might be fine for a car, but not for aircraft.
One potential customer once told us he likes FADECs because of their built-in diagnostics. But wait. Why do FADECs have built-in diagnostics? Because they need diagnostic capabilities so service personnel know how to fix the FADEC!
The head of engineering of a major aircraft manufacturer asked about our FADEC and he was truly puzzled when we told him that our engine didn’t have a one. After explaining our unique engine design, the lights went on and he declared, “Oh, you don’t have a FADEC because you don’t NEED a FADEC!”
We really like that phrase. We don’t have a FADEC because we don’t NEED a FADEC.
DeltaHawk