Successful first flight for Chomarat's C-Ply aircraft model

The 1⁄4 scale version of the VX-1 KittyHawkTM has just successfully completed his first maiden flight on June 6th, 2014 at the Foothills Regional Airport between Morganton and Lenoir, NC. KittyHawkTM, the new aircraft with a unique shape made structurally efficient thanks to Chomarat's advanced composite reinforcement material took off and flew for just under five minutes. “It was a big day, everyone was thrilled to see the KittyHawk take to the skies. And after this first test we are very confident in KittyHawkTM potential.” said Bob Skillen, Chief Engineer at VX Aerospace.

“We wish to congratulate our partners for this important milestone in the KittyHawkTM program! We are very proud to be part of this success that marks Chomarat's commitment and added-value in aeronautical projects.” adds Michel Cognet, Chomarat's CEO.

KittyHawkTM: the first VX Aerospace aircraft manufactured with C-PlyTM

“C-PlyTM is the first true advance in carbon fabrics in a long time! It is designed to optimize fiber performance. This is a game changer for small business doing aerospace grade work, because C-PlyTM allows for cost-effective production of open mold parts with the same (or better) performance characteristics as parts manufactured by automated tape placement. This, in turn, can save up to millions of dollars in investment!" continues Bob Skillen.

C-PlyTM is the enabling material for using VX Aerospace established hand lay-up and oven curing processes, to economically achieve properties similar to autoclave cured UD (uni-directional) prepreg and automatically placed tape prepreg. The C-PlyTM material is durable to handle during lay-up, drapable to

accommodate the compound curvatures, and can be manufactured to fully optimize the design relative to fiber angles and ply weights... to ultimately yield a low weight, high performance, and low cost final solution. A unique shape with no wings for a reduced carbon footprint

What makes KittyHawkTM so different from other aircraft is its shape: it has no wings! The aircraft design allows for more useable space inside the aircraft, greater payload capacity, better structural efficiency and better durability. Furthermore, it will have a smaller footprint than other aircrafts when based on payload capability. “The volume will also allow KittyHawkTM to lead the way in adopting CNG (compressed natural gas) as an aviation fuel. Existing technology CNG tanks fit inside the aircraft with no aerodynamic compromise. At less than 1/3 the cost of avgas, KittyHawkTM will have unparalleled operational economy with emissions that are 40% cleaner.” concludes Bob Skillen, VX Aerospace's CEO.