WARRIOR: NEWS ARCHIVES
May 2005
Warrior is delighted to announce the completion and successful first flight of its prototype water-capable Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV). This is the first of a prospective family of these aircraft, the prototype having been built under contract.
This aircraft is expected to significantly extend the future application of UAVs in providing conventional functions with the added capability of reliable water-based landing and take-off. More importantly, it will also enable a series of valuable new functions, able to land on water at multiple waypoints in operation and dwell in observation/detection roles for extended periods.
Uses include:
- Multiple defense roles
- Coast Guard
- Offshore and Economic Zone policing
- Commercial roles
This is a significant step toward Warrior's entry into public service markets with both manned and unmanned aircraft. It is the culmination of a year's work and meetings with US NAVAIR in Washington, Special Forces systems buyers, Coast Guard and respective suppliers. Warrior has been invited to participate in Search and Rescue (SAR) events also, with a view to enabling economical SAR coverage offshore and over long coast lines and island nations. Warrior is now well positioned to pursue related avenues, with a focus on industry partnering opportunities.
(In light of this potential, the directors of Warrior have decided to withdraw the AIM prospectus with agreement amongst all advising parties. Financial public relations company Binns & Co PR and brokers Hoodless-Brennan continue as the company's advisors).
March 2005
(The news bulletin of March 2005 relating to an anticipated AIM listing has been deleted from this website to prevent risk of misunderstanding. Please see May 2005 release.)
October 2004
Warrior is using its patented designs in the development of unmanned vehicles under a contract from Global Observatory Ltd. This program will enable valuable new functions to be performed in both civil and military roles.
James R. Pullen, USA/UK mergers and acquisitions specialist, has joined the management team to provide additional financial resource management and to help develop the business with three divisions for respective product families.
Warrior's primary objective remains to secure the six seat Centaur program which is now a relatively low-risk technical development. The market appears as strong as ever. This will be helped by new guidance and information systems that enable seaplanes to operate safely in a much wider range of weather/visibility conditions. The implications are potentially more positive to future seaplane operations than any other aviation category.
February 2004
Various requests have recently come in, in respect of new military requirements, ongoing drug interdiction needs, search & rescue, and the demand for long-distance and more competitive aerial water-surveillance/policing. Much new documentation has been prepared in support of these additional new avenues for Warrior and the Centaur's technology, which is now ready for presentation, with related specifications.
November 2003
The fuselage has been delivered to the assembly plant at Sanford, Maine. It has been built using the latest Resin Transfer Molding techniques and new processes developed for our own purposes. The high quality is very evident and was appreciated by all Warrior/Centaur friends who visited for a celebration viewing on 1 November.
The wing and stub-wing tools are ready to be put to use. We are raising funds and hope to give the go-ahead in the next few weeks.
To the team in Warrior at Sanford, to Maine Composites, Inc and the designers in the UK, thank you for all for the hard work and loyalty.
June 2003
All is going steadily on development fronts. Though it is disappointing to declare a significantly postponed first flight, this does not affect time to Certification nor reflect successful progression …
Long overdue … a welcome to David and Penny Shaw who joined Warrior in April to set up our facility at Sanford Airport (Maine) and to manage aircraft assembly. David's experience includes project leader on other prototype aircraft and progress is good. Lycoming have delivered the engine (a 350hp TIO-540) and preparations of systems and the workshop to receive the airframe are going ahead.
Warrior's assembly plant being prepared in Sanford, Maine
The aerodynamicists have continued detail work concerning flight controls. To Warrior's delight, though still assuming standard minor fixes that are used conventionally in flight-test programmes, they have declared that it is likely that;
"the current geometry of the Centaur will result in flight characteristics and performance suitable for JAR/FAR Part 23 Certification."
This could take the Centaur much closer to Certification than was anticipated. It means that the tools and the shape being engineered currently may be used to construct rate production tools and that the flight-testing of this first aircraft may count directly toward a streamlined Certification.
Fuselage side - all fibres in place in preparation for resin infusion
Fund-raising activity has continued, a US$300k investment having recently come in from the Small Enterprise Growth Fund of Maine (welcome aboard SEGF!). The apparent success of the aerodynamicists has put increasing pressure on financing the early grooming of the airframe structure and manufacture process.
October 2002 - STATUS
Development has been slowed by funding constraints, but progress is still steady, with wing and stubwing tools being shipped at present.
Much development work has gone into preparation of molds and manufacturing process using resin infusion methods. In relation to pre-impregnated resin/fibre systems, this promises very high quality of moldings and substantial cost and time savings in the manufacturing process.
Warrior has expanded its own in-house engineering team and has moved to larger offices, just 200m up the road. The airframe facility has been audited successfully in accordance with Certified composite aircraft manufacturing requirements.
September 2002 - The first moldings from the tools for the engine cowl (non-flying) to enable fire-wall-forward preparation
July 2002 - high-temperature fuselage molds complete and ready for airframe manufacture
May 2002 - CFD results
The computational fluid dynamics (CFD) results are in and have confirmed the current tail design is correct (see new CFD picture in Design) - hence the tooling for the last external surfaces can go ahead. Meanwhile, the fuselage patterns are complete and the mold has been post-cured ready for airframe construction.
ACTIVITY IN MAINE, APRIL 2002
Fuselage pattern ready for moulding - all in Maine are taking an enormous amount of
pride in the work at all levels - a pleasure to see and a great asset to the project.
Support in Maine - Steve Hasett of Customs Composites Inc, Bill Lemos chairing the Composites Committee of Maine Technology Institute (career in naval aviation) and Keith Burgess of Maine Composites, Inc.
Centaur's new oven for - 33 feet by 8 feet by 8 feet and tested to 300°F.
March 2002 - New press releases
New press releases issued and over 100 written purchase inquiries in the first week. To view declaration of funding "US/UK Joint project receives funding to build prototype amphibious aircraft" click [Press Release]
February 2002 - Fuselage patterns (above) shipped to the finishing shop in Maine
September 2001 - Supported by DTI Aerospace Directorate, DTI South East appoints SMART EXCEPTIONAL (£450,000) to Warrior.
July 2001 - Maine Technology Institute approves a $500,000 award with a view to manufacturing airframes in Maine.May 2001
James Labouchere (UK) and David Verrill (Maine, USA) with the Besso Trophy, awarded by Besso Ltd., insurers of seaplanes and a wide range of other types of aircraft. Approval from the institutions that provide the critical underwriting of our industry!