XTI Aerospace completes Global Finite Element Model for latest TriFan 600 configuration

XTI Aerospace, a company operating in the VTOL and powered-lift aircraft realm, announced its completion of its Global Finite Element Model (GFEM) for its latest TriFan 600 configuration. This achievement allows the design team to further analyze structural integrity and load distribution.

The GFEM represents the next level of detail for the Digital Mock-up (DMU), or 'digital twin', within the detailed CATIA 3DX computer aided design (CAD) model of the TriFan 600. The GFEM's completion enables the team to further analyze the aircraft's underlying structural integrity and load paths before finalizing the Detailed Finite Element Model. (see picture below)

"The DMU and GFEM allows us to do detailed analysis of our design in terms of structure and mass properties," said Dave Ambrose, VP of Engineering at XTI Aircraft. "Our structures team is eager to begin the next phase of validation and modification of our internal structures of the aircraft. Just as the CFD (computational fluid dynamics) informs the aerodynamic performance of the aircraft, the GFEM enables a deeper understanding of structural integrity and load distribution."

In the first quarter of 2025, XTI completed six product and engineering milestones, which were disclosed near the beginning of the quarter. The completions began with the downwash/outwash study and are leading up to the launch of the "Sparrow" subscale working model at the start of the second quarter.

First quarter 2025 milestones:
- Downwash / Outwash Study; analyze airflows generated by the aircraft during vertical takeoff and landing to evaluate safety and performance
- Type Certification Application; formally apply to the FAA for type certification of the TriFan 600
- Engine Air Inlets and Exhaust; optimize air intake and exhaust design to enhance performance and efficiency of the propulsion system
- Fuel System Design; optimize fuel system design to reduce unusable fuel and increase fuel capacity
- Flight Deck Mockup Design; develop a flight deck human factors mockup to design, evaluate, and optimize ergonomics, pilot controls, and vision polar
- Global Finite Element Model (GFEM) of the latest configuration; update the comprehensive structural model to evaluate and optimize the aircraft's strength and load paths under various loading conditions.

Later this month, XTI Aerospace will begin flight testing its subscale model of the TriFan 600, codenamed "Sparrow." Sparrow mirrors the latest aerodynamic configuration of the TriFan 600, which will be used to evaluate vertical takeoff, the transition to conventional flight, and the return to vertical mode for landing. These tests will further validate the 'digital twin' computational fluid dynamics (CFD) analysis.

(article source: XTI Aerospace, via PR Newswire / editor: Anton van Rijsbergen)
(image source: XTI Aerospace, via PR Newswire)