Outbound Aerospace, founded by Jake Armenta and Ian Lee, aims to revolutionize the aviation industry with a blended-wing airplane design utilizing 3D printing and lightweight materials. Drawing inspiration from SpaceX’s rapid innovation, the startup has secured up to $500,000 in funding to kickstart their ambitious concept. Armenta, a former Boeing engineer, envisions harnessing the same energy and drive that propelled SpaceX to success as they develop their cutting-edge aircraft design.
Despite still being in stealth mode, Armenta has been gradually revealing more about Outbound Aerospace and its futuristic vision. The co-founders, who have been refining the design for the blended-wing airplane for over a year, believe in the potential of new technologies to disrupt traditional aircraft design much like they did in the realm of rocket design. With a focus on employing 3D printing and patented manufacturing processes, Outbound Aerospace is looking to scale up their design to a comparable size to midsize passenger jets.
While it may seem audacious for a startup to enter the highly competitive aircraft manufacturing industry dominated by giants like Boeing and Airbus, Outbound Aerospace is making significant progress. Having secured angel funding and a commitment from venture capital firm Antler, the startup is well on its way to building a one-eighth scale demonstrator plane for testing. Partnering with engineering consulting firm Collinear Group, Outbound is gearing up for flight tests in Oregon later this year.
Outbound Aerospace’s team, consisting of former aerospace industry professionals from companies like Relativity Space, SpaceX, and Stoke, is hard at work on developing their innovative aircraft design. With plans to raise additional funds after the successful demonstration flight, the startup aims to secure the necessary resources to continue their mission of reshaping aircraft manufacturing. The next steps for Outbound Aerospace involve a full-scale design unveiling and a large seed funding round to propel their vision further.
Despite not having a billionaire backer like other notable aerospace startups, Outbound Aerospace remains optimistic about its future. Armenta is confident that the successful demonstration flight and the unveiling of their full-size design will attract the necessary financial support to take the startup to new heights. With a dedicated team and a solid plan in place, Outbound Aerospace is poised to make significant strides in the aviation industry and potentially disrupt the status quo with their innovative blended-wing airplane design.
As Outbound Aerospace gears up for a pivotal period over the next six months, the aviation world waits in anticipation to see how close the startup will come to realizing its ambitious flight plan. With a focus on leveraging cutting-edge technologies, securing additional funding, and undergoing rigorous testing and development, Outbound Aerospace is positioned to make a notable impact in the aerospace industry. The coming months are sure to be a thrilling ride as the startup works towards their goal of transforming aircraft design and manufacturing.
