Aurora Flight Sciences

#DYK In 1998, our Perseus B reached an altitude of 60,260 feet, flying almost 12 miles above Earth’s surface! This single-engine, remotely piloted aircraft was designed for environmental research and demonstrated our commitment to pushing the boundaries of flight. #innovation #aerospace #flight

"At Aurora, I have had the freedom to explore new opportunities, the support to grow, and the ability to contribute meaningfully across multiple functions," said Katherine Kirik. "The experience of connecting the dots between business strategy, execution, and leadership has been invaluable—not only for my own development but also in driving innovation in aerospace." Katie has a bachelor's in accounting from Penn State Erie, The Behrend College. She said that one of the most rewarding aspects of her role at Aurora has been working on projects that advance flight technology and push the boundaries of what’s possible in aviation. "Aurora’s culture of innovation encourages collaboration, new ideas, and bold thinking, allowing us to create solutions that have the potential to drive change across the industry," said Katie. "I love it all— the exciting work, the passion that drives our team, and even the challenges. When it gets tough, I take a step back and remind myself just how special and impactful this work is. I'm part of a global team, bringing together diverse cultures, backgrounds, and expertise from all over the world. How lucky am I to be a part of this?"

Trivia time! We have been on the forefront of sUAS development for over 15 years. Our sUAS have supported ISR missions, research and development projects, and counter-UAS (C-UAS) development and capabilities. Need help finding the answer? Learn about each of these platforms here: https://lnkd.in/eWV8suXx #sUAS #autonomy #flight

✈️ Ever wonder what goes into selecting the materials used in cutting-edge aircraft? Our Materials, Processes and Testing (MP&T) team is at the heart of it all, finding the best materials and processes to take aircraft design to the next level. From testing metal 3D printed parts to exploring new ways to work with composite materials, we're focused on making sure every component is up to the task. Curious about how materials engineering shapes the future of flight? Read this article to learn more. #aerospace #aviation #innovation #engineering

This #WomensHistoryMonth, we're celebrating the women across Aurora who are working to advance the future of flight. Meet Madelyn Focaracci, an aerospace engineer on our Flight Physics team. "The best parts of working at Aurora are the people and the planes," said Maddi. "I love working with my teammates - everyone has something to teach me. I'm also excited to be a part of a team that focuses on sustainability. Reaching the aviation industry’s net zero goals is a huge challenge, and we are helping piece together what the solutions could look like – it's fascinating!" Maddi has been with Aurora for over two years. She has a Bachelor of Science from Massachusetts Institute of Technology and a Master of Science from Georgia Institute of Technology, both in aerospace engineering. Her passion for aerospace and aviation expands beyond her work and into her personal life. She is currently pursuing her private pilot's license, which offers a great opportunity to experience firsthand the concepts that she's studied in theory. #engineer #aerospace #aviation

At Aurora, innovation isn't just a goal – it's our foundation. For well over a decade, our teams have been at the forefront of sUAS development, laying the groundwork for the next generation of small unmanned aerial systems (sUAS). From early innovations to today's SKIRON-X eVTOL product line, our expertise in autonomy, aerospace engineering, and advanced manufacturing has driven breakthrough capabilities in autonomous flight. Learn more about our history of sUAS development and how we're using that experience to drive the development of today's cutting-edge platforms. #autonomy #eVTOL #sUAS #innovation

We are excited to join the team supporting the University of Colorado Boulder's project to develop communication-aware autonomy. As a part of NASA's University Leadership Initiative, this team will investigate tools for understanding and leveraging the complex communications environment of collaborative, autonomous airspace systems. We look forward to collaborating with university teams, industry partners, and NASA to push the boundaries of innovation in autonomous flight. Learn more about the project here: https://lnkd.in/enWknZWx #autonomy #flight

This #WomensHistoryMonth, we’re giving you the opportunity to meet some of the incredible women at Aurora. Today we’re highlighting Sarah Waldrep, lead business operations analyst at Aurora’s manufacturing facility in Columbus, Mississippi. “Since I’ve been at Aurora, I’ve seen how we are pushing the boundaries of what’s possible in aviation from design through manufacturing,” said Sarah. “The combination of cutting-edge technology, hands-on work, and the opportunity to bring our local community into this world is inspiring. Aurora employees are transforming visionary ideas into reality with the innovative products we deliver to our customers every day.” Sarah has been at Aurora for 5 years and has a Bachelor of Science in business administration & mathematical science from the University of Tennessee at Martin. Sarah supports our manufacturing teams, optimizing manufacturing processes and ensuring on-time deliveries. She has always had a passion for aerospace and aviation and enjoys sharing that with the next generation of aerospace professionals. She is an avid supporter of Aurora’s outreach program, a member of Aurora's chapter of Boeing Women in Leadership (BWIL) and is currently training for her first Ironman 70.3 this year. 

There's still time to sign up for the next Vertical Flight Society (VFS) Federal City Chapter (Washington, DC) meeting! Hear from Aurora CTO Graham Drozeski, tour one of our hangars, and learn about some of our current programs and capabilities. You'll also get the chance to hear from some of our neighbors at Manassas Regional Airport. We look forward to seeing you!

On Saturday, March 1, Aurora employees volunteered their time to support the Virginia Science Olympiad regional tournament in Fredericksburg, VA. Aurora supervised the middle and high school helicopter events, recording flight times and verifying that students’ helicopters met the necessary specifications. Virginia Science Olympiad is a non-profit organization that hosts team-based STEM competitions for students of all ages. The group encourages students to pursue STEM education by making learning fun with a variety of hands-on competitions and workshops designed to spark interest in STEM fields. We are excited to be back at University of Virginia in Charlottesville at the end of the month to support the state tournament! #STEM #outreach #aerospace