Teros UAV achieves advanced flight testing

Sonex Aerospace, LLC is excited to announce that Navmar Applied Sciences Corporation (NASC) has successfully begun the flight test program for the NASC Teros Group 4/5 Unmanned Aerial Vehicle technology demonstrator. The flight took place at the NASC Unmanned Aerial Systems Flight Operations and Training Center at the Griffiss International Airport in Rome, NY on January 29, 2020. The Teros UAV flew for approximately 1.5 hours in both manual and autonomous flight profiles successfully testing the aircraft systems and avionics suite.

Based-upon the popular Sonex Aircraft Xenos Motorglider, its rugged, aerobatic-capable structure enables the NASC Teros to provide a flexible plug and play payload capability for multiple payloads up to 600 pounds at high altitudes for extended flight durations. The NASC Teros was designed in collaboration with Sonex Aerospace, LLC and is a Medium Altitude Long Endurance Unmanned Aircraft Vehicle (UAV) capable of operating within the Group 4 and Group 5 UAV classifications. Teros was designed and built to FAA Part 23 (structure and systems) and MIL F 83691 (flight characteristics) standards.

"Today’s successful flight is a huge step toward reaching our ultimate goal of Teros approval for integration into the National Airspace," said Richard Leverich, NASC Senior Program Engineer.

"The successful flight testing of Teros is a major milestone for the Sonex companies," remarked Sonex Aerospace CEO Mark Schaible. "This benchmark has major significance with regard to the future of Sonex Aerospace and Sonex Aircraft LLC, promising growth opportunities to take Sonex to the next level of business operations, while continuing to serve our traditional sport aircraft market."

The Teros is undergoing preparation for follow-on envelope expansion flight testing. NASC and Sonex will continue to consider improvements to be integrated into the next production update.