Story ID: 
XTI Begins Component Construction
By: Mark Huber
Caption: Fabrication of a 60-percent-scale flying prototype of its hybrid-turbine-electric VTOL will begin in April, with first flight expected later this year.
Word Count: 190
Colorado-based XTI Aircraft Company announced this week that it is on schedule and on budget as it completes the ducts and fans for the 60-percent-scale flying prototype of its hybrid-turbine-electric vertical takeoff and landing (VTOL) TriFan 600 and moves toward ground testing those components.

According to CEO Robert LaBelle, XTI is currently “fabricating the wing ducts and fans and will perform ground tests for static thrust performance and verification on those components. We’ll also complete weight and balance, and full structural design. Fabrication of the entire aircraft will begin in April, followed by two or three months of testing before first flight later this year.”

XTI holds orders for more than 60 of the aircraft, worth some $390 million. “The orders indicate higher sales and revenues for the company than we originally estimated,” LaBelle said, “and significantly reduce the risk for our investors.”

The six-seat TriFan 600 is designed to cruise at speeds of more than 300 mph at altitudes up to 30,000 feet and have a maximum range of 1,200 nm. XTI continues to raise funds through a combination of crowdfunding, public stock offerings, and other financing.