XTI Aerospace, Inc., which provides vertical takeoff and landing (VTOL) and powered-lift aircraft solutions, has launched the XTI Aerospace Prototyping and Innovation Lab within The HIVE in Grand Forks, North Dakota.
The HIVE is a hybrid business accelerator and incubator focused on VTOL and unmanned aircraft systems (UAS).
The new lab is designed to accelerate the development of XTI’s powered-lift aircraft, the TriFan 600, initially focussed on advancing the subscale model, code-named “Sparrow,” and progress toward the construction of a more advanced model, “Kestrel,” which will be crucial in enhancing key elements such as flight control systems and aerodynamics.
Under the leadership of Robert Lunnie, an expert in VTOL systems and an aerospace professor at the University of North Dakota, the team will work to optimise the aircraft’s performance capabilities and develop a flight control centre. Lunnie has assembled a team dedicated to the development of XTI’s subscale models.
XTI Aerospace anticipates that this new lab will help to not only enhance the design and flight capabilities of the TriFan 600 but also contribute to the broader advancement of aviation technology.
“We are excited to advance the next generation of TriFan 600’s subscale models, focusing on critical flight control and aerodynamics systems,” said Tobin Arthur, chief strategy officer at XTI Aerospace.
“With Professor Lunnie’s leadership, and strong local support and resources, the work at the XTI Prototyping and Innovation Lab will bring us closer to delivering the transformative TriFan to the market.”
Lunnie said: “Our team is highly motivated and eager to push the boundaries of aerospace innovation. We are committed to meeting and exceeding key milestones that will ultimately shape the future of air mobility.”
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