PROFILED PROJECTS
NASA / LOCKHEED MARTIN X-56A UAV
X65A Prototype and NASA / Skunk Works Testing
PROFILED PROJECT
NASA / LOCKHEED MARTIN X-56A UAV
MANUFACTURING AND SPECS
Engineering
Manufacture
Lockheed Martin commissioned MTCcorp to build two carbon fiber unmanned aerial vehicles (UAV) for their X-56A unmanned research aircraft project designed for NASA’s experimental aircraft used in their Advanced Transport Technology Program. The remotely piloted X-56A aircraft is designed to test high-altitude flights, attaining altitude of 4,000 feet above sea level, and testing wing flutter with highly flexible lightweight wings capable of suppressing flutter 110 knots or roughly 127 mph.
MTCcorp designed and fabricated all CNC tooling for the unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV), including manufacturing of two complete carbon fiber fuselages to designed tolerance, four sets of wings (carbon fiber & fiberglass) using LM drawings and CAD data, and performed final UAV aircraft assembly and paint.
In addition, MTCcorp also installed the JETCAT P240 jet engines: including all sensors, actuators, controllers, aircraft instrumentation and wiring harnesses, power up and test flight mechanical, electrical and electronic systems per aerospace client’s specifications.
MTCcorp's carbon fiber drone manufacturering capabilities was also utilized to CNC machine a “flexible” wing sets for the X-56B UAV aircraft in conjunction with Northrop Grumman and their cooperation with the Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL). The X-56B unmanned aerial vehicle is a conversion of an earlier X-56A, which retains the "center body" from the original drone and uses a blended wing body planform.
Client: Lockheed Martin / Northrop Grumman
More profiled projects here
X56A Prototype Assembly