Xti Aerospace Releases Key Product And Engineering Milestones For Q2 2025 Including Sparrow First Flight

XTI remains on track in its development efforts which seek to redefine regional air travel through novel point-to-point flight solutions, with the TriFan 600 serving as its flagship xVTOL airplane. One of XTI's Q2 milestones is the planned first flight of the next subscale model, code-named "Sparrow." This unmanned 1:15 scale aircraft builds on the previous subscale model developed in 2023 and will continue validating vertical and transitional flight dynamics with its rotating ducted fans.

Q2 2025 Milestones

XTI aims to complete the following key product and engineering achievements in Q2 2025:

• Engine Supplier Selection – XTI expects to formalize its engine selection and announce its choice of engine supplier, particularly focusing on the twin turboshaft engines, one of the key aspects crucial to the aircraft's performance.
• Drivetrain Supplier Selection – XTI will announce its lead supplier of the drivetrain, one of the most complex systems of the TriFan 600's design.
• External Noise Phase I Assessment – In partnership with Continuum Dynamics, Inc., XTI will begin a detailed noise assessment of the TriFan 600, focusing on understanding and minimizing the environmental noise impact of the aircraft's three ducted fans.
• FAA Technical Familiarization Briefings – As XTI continues the certification process with the FAA, the engineering team will support three more scheduled TriFan 600 technical familiarization meetings with FAA subject matter experts.
• Sparrow First Flight – The Sparrow 1:15 scale flying model will perform hover and transition maneuvers to assess and validate the latest aerodynamic configuration as compared to results of the "digital twin's" computational fluid dynamics (CFD) analysis.

"This quarter's engineering milestones highlight a clear path toward a mature aerodynamic design and performance that can provide game-changing aviation capabilities," said Dave Ambrose, VP of Engineering at XTI. "We believe our subscale testing, supplier alignment, and FAA engagement are strengthening technical validation and compressing time to market."

In addition to these technical milestones, XTI is preparing to launch its next subscale model, code-named "Kestrel," later in 2025. That model will focus on further evaluating aerodynamics, flight controls, and performance characteristics, with an emphasis on flight control laws.

Looking Ahead: Pre-Sales and Future Deliveries

XTI plans to reintroduce aircraft pre-sales later in 2025, allowing fleet operators, business owners, EMS operators, and other prospective customers the opportunity to secure their place in line for future TriFan 600 deliveries.

Future Design Phases Leading to the TriFan 600's Commercial Release:

1. Preliminary Design– During this phase, XTI will evaluate the overall design approach, ensuring that the top-level requirements are satisfied and that the project can move to detailed design and testing.
2. Critical Design – During this phase, XTI will work closely with suppliers to finalize the airplane's detailed design and ensure requirements are met before proceeding to manufacturing, integration, and testing.
3. First Flight – The "first flight" marks the culmination of comprehensive ground testing of structures, systems and subsystems to a confidence level sufficient for the first crewed airborne flight test.
4. Type Certification –Upon successful completion of the FAA's rigorous type certification process, which will include extensive ground and airborne testing, the FAA will issue XTI a type certificate for the TriFan 600's design.

Scott Pomeroy, Chairman and CEO of XTI Aerospace, said, "By consistently delivering on our technical and programmatic commitments, we're reducing risk, accelerating time to market, and positioning XTI to deliver real impact for our customers and to generate long-term value for our shareholders."