Ground testing at Edwards Air Force Base complete – first flight up next.

The ground test campaign was completed in just 21 days and culminated in 130-knot taxi tests with full afterburner.

Prior to reaching these taxi speeds, end-to-end testing between the Flight Deck and the aircraft validated redundant RF links and addressed potential electromagnetic interference (EMI) problems.   

The team also conducted extensive human-machine interface (HMI) testing to optimize pilot inputs for Quarterhorse. Ensuring pilots receive the precise information needed for effective remote operation presented a unique challenge, requiring meticulous refinement of inputs to enhance situational awareness and decision-making. 

The first flight of Quarterhorse will mark a pivotal milestone for Hermeus and offer insights to inform the development of future aircraft.

Quarterhorse Mk 1 was purpose-built for a single mission: takeoff and landing.

Key areas of learning include evaluating the effectiveness of control surfaces in flight, assessing performance and handling at high angles of attack, testing maneuverability under high wing loading, and validating control gains and filters within the flight software.

свернуть