Aurora-Columbus to build VTOL

Aurora Flight Services plans to design and build its LightningStrike aircraft, as part of a Phase I contract award announced Feb. 4, for the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency’s Vertical Takeoff and Landing X-Plane program. The aircraft is to be built at Aurora’s production plant in Columbus, Miss. There was no monetary contract award provided for the DARPA contract. The VTOL aircraft is designed for hover and speed that meet DARPA's performance and load-capacity goals. Aurora plans to design LightningStrike in Manassas, Va. Source: Aurora Flight Services, Feb. 4, 2014.