A company engaged in the development and creation of experimental aircraft, most of which are unmanned (the so-called UAVs - unmanned aerial vehicles). There is active cooperation with other companies in the design and testing of such devices. One of the most famous developments in the creation of which Aurora Flight Sciences took an active part - the Global Hawk unmanned reconnaissance aircraft and its modifications used by the US Army, NASA и DARPA *.
The company was founded in May 1989 by John Langford. Previously, he became famous for being at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), heading a project to create a muscle-powered aircraft. On April 23, 1988, the Daedalus aircraft made its first flight from Crete to Santorini (it took him 3 hours and 54 minutes to overcome these 120 km).
At the end of the summer of 1991, the company presents its first development - the AU-001 aircraft. At that time, all work and testing was carried out in an old, worn-out hangar. Between 2000 and 2003, Aurora Flight Sciences has developed a range of innovative aircraft for scientific and tactical missions. In 2002, the MarsFlyer prototype aircraft flew to an altitude of over 34 kilometers. In 2006, a new experimental development appeared - Excalibur (full name Excalibur Tactical Unmanned Combat Aerial Vehicle). This is a UAV that combines the advantages of both an aircraft and a helicopter and is capable of staying in the air for a long time (reconnaissance, attacking ground targets, transporting cargo). Excalibur made its first flight in 2009.
creations Aurora Flight Sciences are unique. In the vast majority of cases, they can be described as "something flying", unlike any of the mechanisms we are used to. Such devices are of interest primarily to the military (from which the main flow of money and orders comes). But they may also be of interest to scientists, researchers, rescuers, and the police. Research is being actively conducted to create aircraft that use alternative fuels and are able to stay in the air for years. The company is also engaged in other developments, such as engine control systems or means for quickly stopping bleeding - yet a wealth of experience in using unusual materials. The sphere of interest is constantly expanding.
Employees Aurora Flight Sciences (and there are already more than 300 of them) no longer huddle in a shabby hangar. Now the company's assets include four separate "states". The head office of the company, responsible for engineering and development, is located in Manassas, Virginia, USA (Manassas, Virginia, USA).
