One of motorsport's most famous companies is giving the strongest possible demonstration at Farnborough of its aerospace capabilities at the Motorsport Valley pavilion.
The sinister-looking black Voodoo UAV that guards the pavilion's main entrance was built by CTS, the composites subsidiary of legendary racing car builder Lola.
The Voodoo has been designed as a lightweight, high-speed target drone by UAV maker Meggitt. But Meggitt turned to CTS because of its specialist skills at building composites structures, skills honed in motor sport.
Indeed, CTS builds the entire airframe - Meggitt adds the electronics and the 145hp engine and fuel-injection system - which is made by another company with a strong tradition in motorsport, Ilmor, the company that makes the engines for the McLaren Mercedes-Benz F1 team. Meggitt vice-president Rob Davies is hopeful of winning an order for Voodoo and the company's smaller Banshee drones from the UK government by the end of the year.
He said Meggitt would make 12 Voodoos this year, and the UK order would account for 50 airframes a year on a rolling basis, as well as 200 Banshees. The 330kt (610km/h) free-flying target has an endurance of 90min, is capable of sea-skimming at just 5m (16ft) and can reach an operating altitude of 30,000ft.
CTS is keen to expand its aerospace contracts, says sales and commercial manager Paul Jackson.
The company makes composite engine cowls for the Sikorsky S-76 helicopter, and produced the composite back cover for the ill-fated Beagle 2 Mars exploratory spacecraft.
MARK BURSA
Source: Flight Daily News
