VX Aerospace

Nestled in the foothills of the Appalachian Mountain range, VX Aerospace is propelling aerospace manufacturing with its dynamic, advanced composite design and production capabilities. By embracing a ‘vision to execution’ philosophy, this nimble enterprise has carved a niche in the sector for its versatility and cost-efficiency. This enables the company to make even the most ambitious aerospace projects accessible and economical.

“We transform our own and our clients’ ideas from concept to computer screen to tangible, soaring aircraft,” states Bob Skillen, CEO of VX Aerospace.

The company uses technologies like Computer-Aided Design (CAD) and Computer Numerical Control (CNC) machining systems to design and build economical and high-capability aircraft. Years of exponential growth in computer processor capability enable high-tech and close-tolerance manufacturing at VX Aerospace. Combining this capability with passionate vision leads to efficient development of complex structures that conform to the unique demands of aerospace manufacturing.

Beyond efficient designs, VX Aerospace’s speed, agility, and engineering talent enable faster product development. This empowers commercial and military aerospace, transportation, and industrial contractors to benefit from shorter production runs without adversely affecting efficiency.

The firm offers turnkey solutions by managing all project aspects internally. Its process is seamless, from in-house tooling and mold design to manufacturing components using a wide array of advanced composite laminating systems. This comprehensive process yields ready-for-installation (RFI) parts and assemblies. In addition, VX Aerospace’s rapid prototyping services, utilizing a variety of methods, underscore its commitment to innovation and agility.

VX Aerospace manufactures the carbon/epoxy Vanilla UAS airframe for its customer, Platform Aerospace. This record setting 36-foot wingspan UAV can fly for ten days unrefuelled. Alongside their customer, VX has assisted with the development of a complete technical data package for the Vanilla along with the necessary manufacturing documents and processes. More than fifteen completed Vanillas later, the program is rapidly approaching the transition to full rate production. This world class endurance UAV will soon be available to customers worldwide for unlimited mission sets.

VX Aerospace’s prowess is not limited to external customer’s unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs); it also breathes life into its own clean-sheet aircraft. By forging alliances with academic powerhouses like the Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering at North Carolina State University, the company leverages the intellectual capital of professors and post-graduates. This partnership also allows the firm to utilize the university’s state-of-the-art software and facilities, such as the computational fluid dynamic programs and the subsonic wind tunnel. Such collaborations enable VX Aerospace to rapidly prototype and test their designs, outpacing larger organizations and meeting the diverse demands for the burgeoning UAV market. Currently the firm is prototyping their third original aircraft design for the unpiloted future.
VX Aerospace’s innovation is not limited to the aerospace world. One example of such partnerships is when the company collaborated with the Camozzi Group and the Italian Institute of Technology to develop the carbon/epoxy beams for the unique robotic inspection system for the new bridge in Genoa, Italy. This bridge is significant infrastructure in Genoa, and its safety and maintenance are paramount. VX Aerospace worked with the design team for the robot inspection “arms.” These two-piece arms can extend and contract from 37 to 67 feet in length. The inspection robot arms are configured with cameras and sensors. Powered by the sun, these carbon beams travel the length of the bridge regularly monitoring the bridge’s structural health.

After design, VX built the carbon fiber beams in 3D printed tooling from Ingersol Machine Tool which, at the time was the largest 3D printed tooling ever made. These colossal parts were cured in VX Aerospace’s 40-foot oven before transport to Italy. Today they stand as a testament to VX Aerospace’s commitment to success when teaming with others.

As VX Aerospace continues to soar to new heights, its flexible and innovative approaches allow the company to join projects at any stage. With each project, the firm reaffirms its commitment to excellence and forging a path toward a brighter, more innovative future in aerospace engineering.