Scaled Composites conducts first Model 437 aircraft flight
Experimental aircraft concept leverages Scaled Composites’ rapid design, fabrication and testing and Northrop Grumman digital ecosystem focus.
![Model 437 Vanguard in flight.](https://d2n4wb9orp1vta.cloudfront.net/cms/brand/CW/2024-CW/0924-cw-news-model437vanguard-scaledcomposites.jpg;maxWidth=720)
Source | Scaled Composites
On Aug. 29, in partnership with Northrop Grumman (Falls Church, Va., U.S.), Scaled Composites LLC (Mojave, Calif., U.S.) announced the first flight of its most recent vehicle, the Model 437 Vanguard, a stealthy aircraft concept.
Under development since 2021, the Model 437 was originally designed as an advanced loyal wingman air combat drone. Based on the Model 401, the concept explores a multi-mission, low-cost attritable aircraft. It is a crewed variant of the original concept powered by a single Pratt & Whitney (San Diego, Calif., U.S.) 535 engine with approximately 3,400 pounds of thrust. The aircraft has a wingspan of 41 feet and is 41 feet long with a gross takeoff weight of 10,000 pounds. After completion of envelope expansion, the M437 Vanguard will have a range of approximately 3,000 nautical miles and an endurance of 6 hours. The aircraft can carry up to 2,000 pounds of payload in multiple locations including an internal weapons bay sized to accommodate two AIM-120s.
Scaled Composites leveraged extensive experience in rapid design, fabrication and testing of experimental aircraft to develop the Model 437 Vanguard. This included a clean sheet aircraft design, aerodynamic and structural analysis, fuselage and empennage fabrication, aircraft assembly, systems integration, and ground and flight test execution. Northrop Grumman defined, developed, built and verified the removable wing assemblies using advanced digital tools and processes as part of its Digital Pathfinder effort.
“The first flight was in a good jet with a great team,” Brian Maisler, test pilot, says. “Thanks to everyone and their 2 years of hard work.”
Related Content
-
MATECH C/ZrOC composite is deployed in hypersonic aeroshells
Ultra high-temperature insulating CMC targets hypersonics, space heat shields and other demanding applications, tested up to 2760°C under extreme stagnation pressures.
-
Large-format 3D printing enables toolless, rapid production for AUVs
Dive Technologies started by 3D printing prototypes of its composite autonomous underwater vehicles, but AM became the solution for customizable, toolless production.
-
From the CW Archives: Airbus A400M cargo door
The inaugural CW From the Archives revisits Sara Black’s 2007 story on out-of-autoclave infusion used to fabricate the massive composite upper cargo door for the Airbus A400M military airlifter.