It’s All About The Data..

Moved from kickoff to in-water testing within weeks, demonstrating effective short-cycle development.
Used real-world test feedback from the first prototype to quickly prioritize and implement key design changes.
Performed deflection and stiffness comparisons against benchmark designs to quantify structural performance.
Design, manufacturing, materials, and test functions worked in tight feedback loops to accelerate learning.
Early failure identified core issues (stiffness, stability, lift distribution), enabling focused corrective action rather than broad rework.
Improved understanding of material limitations and composite strategies for improved stiffness-to-weight.

Key challenges and responses

Addressed by increasing chord/thickness where appropriate, modifying planform, and exploring higher-modulus materials and optimized layups.
Addressed by reducing aggressive geometry choices (e.g., forward sweep), reworking wingtip behavior and twist, and refining angle-of-attack and fuselage connection stiffness.
Prioritized manufacturable solutions (metal fuselage, simplified interfaces) to meet rapid test windows.

- Material upgrade and optimized layups to raise stiffness without excessive weight.
- Continued section and spanwise optimization to balance lift distribution and bending stiffness.
- Instrumented testing (IMUs, load/deflection sensors) to capture objective performance data and accelerate design validation.
- Controlled multi-iteration test plan (V2, V3) with defined success criteria for stability, pumping ability, and stiffness.