New UAV Hoped to Advance the State of Tilting Wing Designs

Advanced Aircraft Company has been selected to develop a tilt-wing prototype UAV for NASA. 

The "aero-activated", uncrewed aircraft will make considerable use of 3D printed materials and lightweight alloys throughout the development process, from rapid iteration all the way to small scale production. The company promises that the aircraft will offer a simpler, more robust tilt-wing configuration than existing manned aircraft, thanks to the lack of any necessary passenger equipment or space. 

“Aero-activated tilt wing configurations offer benefits over conventional configurations, but also introduce significant design challenges,” said Bill Fredericks, founder and CTO of AAC. “Careful design of the center of mass location of the wing body, aerodynamic center of the wing body, and attachment points to the fuselage are critical for establishing a stable equilibrium point to ensure safe and reliable operation.”

“Advanced Aircraft Company is proud and humbled to design and build tilt wing prototypes for the National Aeronautics and Space Administration,” said Paul Allen, CEO of AAC. “This contract further solidifies AAC as the global leader in tilt wing configuration of uncrewed aircraft.”

FMI: www.flyaac.com