The FETT demonstrated a very smooth startup and operability
On the occasion of Jetoptera’s debut at the Paris Air Show 2025, Jetoptera has announced the successful completion of the first test of the engine that will power the J-500, the 500-lb VTOL cargo unmanned aircraft system the company is developing in collaboration with Eanan Al Samma, for the UAE market.
The First Engine To Test (FETT) was evaluated at the VAN DER LEE Turbo Systems facilities in Zaandam, The Netherlands. The 250 kW turbocompressor, that is the heart of the Fluidic Propulsive System™, is a two-shaft engine using a free turbine that is mechanically coupled to a two-stage axial compressor designed to produce the appropriate flow rates.
“The FETT demonstrated a very smooth startup and operability when operated in a turbofan mode. The engine was instrumented in this configuration, to monitor pressure and temperature as well as thrust produced,” stated Dr Andrei Evulet, CEO and CTO, Jetoptera, Inc.
The J-500 prototype is developed specifically for the UAE and MENA market and will be uniquely enabled by the FPS™ to perform unmanned cargo missions with VTOL and unmatched speed, low noise, and reliability thanks to the patented propulsion system, a press statement concluded.
