This aircraft, designed by VX Aerospace, has a unique shape that is structurally efficient thanks to C-Ply, Chomarat’s advanced composite reinforcement material. What makes KittyHawk so different from other aircraft is its shape: it has no wings. Indeed, the fuselage and wings are combined into one shape called a ‘lifting body’ or ‘blended wing’ aircraft. The shape of the KittyHawk is said to have numerous advantages over traditional designs such as: greater useable internal volume, greater payload capability, better structural efficiency, better durability and better manufacturability. Speed of construction is therefore improved as the design has fewer parts and therefore be easier to assemble. In addition, the aircraft can be scaled to accommodate the intended mission. Manned or unmanned, the VX-1 KittyHawk’s massive internal volume is a huge advantage. Furthermore, it will have a smaller footprint than other aircraft when based on payload capability. “The volume will also allow KittyHawk to lead the way in adopting compressed natural gas (CNG) as an aviation fuel,” said Bob Skillen, VX Aerospace’s CEO. “Existing technology CNG tanks fit inside the aircraft with no aerodynamic compromise. At less than a third of the cost of avgas, the KittyHawk will have unparalleled operational economy with emissions that are 40% cleaner.” The unique shape of the KittyHawk is made structurally efficient with the use of advanced composite reinforcement materials from Chomarat. C-Ply (prepregged with Cytec Industries’ resin system MTM 45-1 to create a low density, high damage tolerant prepreg material) is the enabling material for VX Aerospace to use its established hand lay-up and oven curing processes to economically achieve properties similar to autoclave cured UD prepreg and automatically placed tape prepreg. The C-Ply material is durable to handle during lay-up, drapable to accommodate the compound curvatures, and can be manufactured to fully optimise the design relative to fibre angles and ply weights. This will ultimately yield a low weight, high performance, and low cost final solution. “C-PlyTM is the first true advance in carbon fabrics in a long time. It is designed to optimise fibre performance,” added Skillen. “Chomarat capitalised on the low-angle, thin ply, non-crimp laminate concept developed by Professor Steve Tsai. The result is a fabric that allows for cost effective production of open mould parts with the same (or better) performance characteristics of ATP parts. This is a game changer for small business.” The VX-1 KittyHawk is claimed to be a game-changing aircraft which combines the demonstrated advantages of blended wing aircraft of the past with state of the art design, materials and manufacturing techniques of today. This unique configuration is dynamically stable and aerodynamically efficient. “Chomarat and VX Aerospace have developed a close working relationship, where Chomarat provides enabling material and VX provides important commercial feedback and testing that has helped define our directional priorities in the development of C-Ply,” stated Brian Laufenberg, president of Chomarat North America. You can see a ¼ scale version of the KittyHawk made from C-Ply during the JEC Europe show in Paris held from March 11-13 on Chomarat’s booth: M29, hall 7.3. www.chomarat.com
