A Selection of Custom Work in High-Performance Aerospace Applications
Carbonix quickly took on a number of aerospace projects as part of the deliberate exploration of diverse applications of our capability and technology.
As well as discrete parts such as cowlings for conventional aircraft, I put my hand up to provide solutions for a number of drone applications.
Below are some samples authorised for publication by the respective customers (others remain confidential so unfortunately are not able to be shared).
Below left is a fixed-wing aircraft capable of delivering a remotely operated underwater vehicle or torpedo. This concept was developed and prototyped for Singapore Aerospace as part of their advanced strategic research and development.
The aircraft featured above centre (CAD model) and right (prototype) was developed for Guardian Aerospace as a MALE (Medium Altitude Long Endurance) military platform.
It used a radical canard configuration to maximise efficiency and hence range.
The design featured ‘wet wing’ fuel tanks, ‘tip dragger’ rudders, Meredith effect cylinder head cooling, and fully retractable landing gear.
It used a powerplant and electronics already in inventory with a number of military and security organisation (though re-purposed from ground applications given drone use was very much in its embryonic stage back in 2012!).
Above left can be seen one of many concepts proposing to expand Cometa so it could accommodate heavier and bulky payloads. This was requested for a follow-up phase with the original customer after the initial contract was delivered.
The tubular tail booms and removable nose payload fairing allowed very easy modification of the payload bay and adjustment of tail volume to maintain balance and stability.
Above centre is an example of a complex tooling set required to produce a sophisticated drone airframe accurately and repeatably.
And above right is an early concept for an alternative VTOL architecture using electric tilt-rotors (with the streamlined ends of the rotor housings and the tips of the vertical stabilisers doubling as landing gear).
Below are some (of many) concept sketches – something I’ve always loved doing. This early phase of every design process allows a quick and approximate exploration of basic schemes and layouts that can then be evaluated and culled with respect to key design requirements.