Prototype Testing, Team Growth, Expanded Services, And More

The Karls – Ryley, River, and Keegan – three engineer brothers who all quit their corporate jobs and pooled their savings to start an airplane company, have come a long way since 2017. At the end of 2024 they provide an update on all the good things they have going.

Testing of the DarkAero 1 prototype has progressed, with proof load testing of the empennage, tail structures, and control system. Pressure and leak testing of the wet wing fuel tanks was also performed. Testing, as always, has led to refinements in the design of some of those components.

The trailing-link landing gear has been extensively drop-tested with well over 100 drops from varying heights and attitudes. This testing helps validate the design of the landing gear. Elements refined through drop-testing included tire pressure, shock geometry, internal shock valving, trailing link geometry, and support structures.

In addition to development and testing DarkAero 1, the company has also been designing, building, and testing several aerospace vehicle platforms through its engineering services for customers in the aerospace and defense segments. Several airframes were delivered and one of the designs achieved first flight.

While the development of DarkAero 1 is the company’s core focus, expansion of its engineering, design, manufacturing, and testing capabilities have enabled work on a broad range of high-value projects that are sustaining development of DarkAero 1. Balancing those priorities ensures that work on DarkAero 1 will continue unabated and looking ahead to 2025, scaling for kit production will occupy a larger focus.

DarkAero’s team is growing as well, with the company adding training courses in aerospace composites which are being taught to new team members as well as hundreds of external students of all levels interested in building aircraft, eVTOLs, UAVs, boats, race cars, electric vehicles, motorcycles, bicycles, and military equipment.

FMI:  www.darkaero.com/