Chris Teixeira’s Post

BREAKING XQ-67A first flight footage released. The Air Force Research Laboratory successfully flew the first of a second- generation of Autonomous Collaborative Platforms known as the XQ-67A demonstrator, built and flown in the Off-Board Sensing Station (OBSS) program Feb. 28, 2024. The AFRL Off-Board Sensing Station program is the validation of a design, build and test process that has resulted in the XQ-67A. It is the first of its kind to be built on a common chassis or genus — much like that of a motor vehicle frame — and with its first successful flight, the XQ-67A is proof that the genus approach works. This enables a faster and more cost-effective replication of the aircraft. This new approach also responds to the challenge of great power competition by speeding delivery of affordable, advanced capabilities to the warfighter. The XQ-67A is remotely piloted but is capable of autonomous flight. The first test flight of the XQ-67A, took place at the General Atomics Gray Butte Flight Operations Facility near Palmdale, California. Courtesy Video / General Atomics United States Air Force | Air Force Materiel Command #AFResearchLab | #AirForce | #AFRLTech | #AFRL

AeroTEC is the industry leader in the development and testing of sustainable aircraft technologies. Read about the first flight of the eCaravan, our electric powertrain integration process, and the best practices we’ve developed through various electric aircraft testing campaigns.    Check out our page for more information and to read more about our latest project, the NASA/magniX Electrified Powertrain Flight Demonstrator Program (EPFD). #electricaircraft #aerospaceengineering #sustainableaviation

Getting familiar with flying a novel aircraft? That’s where the simulator comes in.  From mission rehearsals to benchmarking performance, our pilot-in-the-loop simulator gives our team the closest possible experience to flying the VX4 without leaving the office.  By enabling the team to routinely practise together, we ensure the highest safety standards whilst accelerating our upcoming flight test programme.  #eVTOL #VX4 #Simulator #FlightTest

We're excited to announce that Ampaire has completed a milestone under the AFVentures TACFI Program. This milestone represents the acceptance of our Critical Design Review by AFWERX. Ampaire has designed a hybrid-electric powertrain capable of supporting VTOL operations. The major systems covered were the electric generator, distributed propulsors, and the energy storage system. The completion of this review gives the green light for building and testing the system. Current all-electric VTOL for DoD applications have significant payload-range constraints. The success of this program will bring hybrid distributed electric propulsion one step closer to commercialization. Hybridization can benefit the industry by cutting operating costs, expanding mission sets, and reducing emissions. About AFWERX  As the innovation arm of the DAF and a directorate within the Air Force Research Laboratory, AFWERX brings cutting-edge American ingenuity from small businesses and start-ups to address the most pressing challenges of the DAF. AFWERX employs approximately 370 military, civilian and contractor personnel at five hubs and sites executing an annual $1.4 billion budget. Since 2019, AFWERX has executed over 6,100 new contracts worth more than $4 billion to strengthen the U.S. defense industrial base and drive faster technology transition to operational capability. For more information, visit: www.afwerx.com. 

TRANSITION FLIGHT | Midnight has completed transition flight at a speed of 100+ MPH – taking off vertically, accelerating until it transitions from thrust-borne to wing-borne flight, cruising on the wing and then landing again vertically. Here are the key highlights from this milestone: ✈️ At ~6,500 lbs, Midnight is believed to be one of the largest eVTOL aircraft to complete transition, which is critical to being able to carry commercially viable passenger payloads 2️⃣ Archer has now achieved transition with two different full-scale eVTOL aircraft which is well known in the industry as a very difficult milestone few companies have reached 💨 Midnight’s flight test program will now continue its progress with plans to fly simulated commercial routes to demonstrate the aircraft’s operational readiness, executing high-rate flight operations, testing additional flight maneuvers that will be used in commercial settings along with continuing to expand its speed and endurance flight envelope Watch the full, uncut video of the flight here: https://lnkd.in/gUVWu2QQ Learn more here: https://lnkd.in/g7PjbkHQ