VX Aerospace was founded in 2006 by Robert “Bob” Skillen in Morganton, NC to provide composite components to the aerospace industry. Bob is a graduate of the US Naval Academy and retired Naval Aviator with a passion for flying and aircraft.
Over the past 20 years, VX Aerospace has grown in size and capability to become an airframe provider and unmanned aircraft system designer. Along the way, VX Aerospace has developed a track record of delivering timely and practical solutions to customers where others have failed. Bob Skillen’s passion for the industry has permeated the VX Aerospace culture and is reflected in the enthusiasm and commitment we bring to the support of our customers.
Today, VX Aerospace is AS9100D and FAA Part 145 Certified for Design and Manufacture of Advanced Composite Structures and Assemblies for the Aerospace Industry. More importantly, VX Aerospace is a team of highly capable Aerospace Professionals with an impressive portfolio of capabilities and accomplishments.
Designed and developed by VX Aerospace in collaboration with North Carolina State University, the VX-1 KittyHawk™ is an innovative blended-wing aircraft that combines aerodynamic efficiency, dynamic stability, and advanced composite construction. The project included computational fluid dynamics analysis, wind tunnel testing, prototype development, and flight testing. The resulting aircraft demonstrated the advantages of lightweight carbon composite structures while validating a novel airframe design through real-world engineering and flight performance evaluation.
The Dash-X was developed by VX Aerospace and university research partners to support advanced military unmanned aircraft operations. Designed to deploy from a tactical aircraft and operate autonomously, the Group 2 UAV was engineered, manufactured, and flight-tested in less than a year. The program demonstrated VX Aerospace’s capabilities in UAV design, composite airframe manufacturing, aircraft integration, autonomous systems development, and flight testing for defense and aerospace applications.
The KHv2 was conceived to address a critical challenge in autonomous cargo delivery: automated loading, unloading, and weight-and-balance management without onboard personnel. Working with North Carolina State University and RMD Systems, VX Aerospace developed a hybrid-wing-body aircraft integrated with a robotic cargo management system known as the Smart Box. The project combined advanced aerospace engineering, computational analysis, systems integration, and unmanned aircraft design to create a platform optimized for autonomous logistics operations.
VX Aerospace provided advanced composite engineering and manufacturing support for the robotic inspection system used on the San Giorgio Bridge in Genoa, Italy. Working with Ingersoll and the University of South Carolina, VX Aerospace manufactured large carbon fiber structural beams designed to deliver exceptional stiffness while minimizing weight. The project demonstrated the company’s expertise in aerospace-grade composite structures, large-scale tooling, advanced manufacturing processes, and innovative engineering solutions beyond traditional aviation applications.
VX Aerospace became a trusted composite manufacturing partner supporting the U.S. Marine Corps H-46 helicopter fleet during its service-life extension program. By delivering rapid-turnaround composite repair and replacement solutions for critical aircraft components, VX Aerospace helped extend operational readiness, reduce maintenance costs, and return aircraft to service quickly until the platform was ultimately replaced by the V-22 Osprey.