Aurora Flight Sciences

09/01/2026

: Our Mississippi team plays a key role in composite aerostructures and advanced fabrication, and several family pairs are building their careers side-by-side while contributing to critical programs and strengthening a collaborative culture.

With the facility’s major expansion now complete, our growing footprint and new automation capabilities are already creating fresh opportunities for employees to advance their skills and careers.

Read the full story: https://www.aurora.aero/2026/07/16/building-aerospace-careers-together-in-mississippi/

08/25/2026

We recently celebrated the grand opening of a major expansion at our Columbus, Mississippi manufacturing site. The nearly 50,000 sq. ft. addition strengthens our advanced composite production capabilities and reinforces our long-term commitment to the region.

The event brought together Mississippi’s state leaders, community partners, and our Aurora team. President and CEO Luke Colville joined Governor Tate Reevess, Senator Roger Wicker, Representative Trent Kelly, and Congressman Michael Guest to commemorate the facility’s growth and continued impact on the aerospace community.

Read more about the expansion here:

From left to right: Clint Church, Phantom Works Chief Engineer, Massachusetts and Virginia sites; U.S. Congressman Michael Guest; Mississippi Governor Tate Reeves; Luke Colville, President and CEO, Aurora Flight Sciences; U.S. Senator Roger Wicker; U.S Congressman Trent Kelly. The expansion adds clo...

08/11/2026

We’re proud to build essential assemblies for Sikorsky’s CH‑53K® King Stallion heavy‑lift helicopter.

Our West Virginia team manufactures the main rotor pylon and engine nacelles for the aircraft, advancing production with innovative tools like our in‑house Flexible, Robotic Composite Machining Cell, which has already processed more than 4,500 parts at over 99% first‑pass quality.

With expanded capacity, advanced tech, and a skilled workforce, we are ready to support the CH‑53K’s mission for years to come.

Read more: https://www.aurora.aero/2026/07/07/building-the-strength-behind-the-ch-53k-king-stallion/

Credit: Lockheed Martin Aurora delivers precise, high performance structures that enhance the strength and reliability of the CH-53K aircraft. Aurora Flight Sciences, a Boeing company, produces essential assemblies for Sikorsky’s CH‑53K® King Stallion heavy‑lift helicopter: the main rotor pyl...

08/04/2026

In summer 2013, our Orion Medium-Altitude Long-endurance (MALE) UAS conducted its maiden flight, with launch initiated remotely from a ground control station at China Lake Naval Air Weapons Station.

The twin‑engine aircraft accelerated down the runway and lifted off at approximately 80 knots, or 92 miles per hour, marking the first flight of the largest and most complex aircraft Aurora had ever built.

07/16/2026

Our facility in Columbus, Mississippi plays a vital role in the company’s composite aerostructures and advanced fabrication work, and it is also home to a workforce closely connected to the surrounding community. Among that team are several family members who have chosen to build their careers together, helping shape a collaborative culture at the site.

Meet three families whose stories reflect the kind of long-term commitment Aurora aims to support as the facility prepares for its next chapter: the opening of a major expansion that adds new automation equipment, expands composite and fabrication capabilities, and increases the site’s production capacity.

Read more:

How families at Aurora’s Mississippi facility contribute to advanced programs while shaping the site’s collaborative culture. Aurora Flight Sciences’ manufacturing facility in Columbus, Mississippi plays a vital role in the company’s composite aerostructures and advanced fabrication work. Th...

07/07/2026

Our West Virginia team plays a key role in the production of the CH‑53K® King Stallion, building the main rotor pylon and engine nacelles - two complex composite structures made up of nearly 90 parts.

The work blends hands‑on skill with smart automation. Our in‑house Flexible, Robotic Composite Machining Cell (FRCMC) has processed thousands of components, improving precision while giving technicians more time to focus on the craftsmanship that matters most.

With continued investment in training, inspection tools, and facility growth, the team is prepared to support the production needs for CH-53K well into the future.

Read more:

Credit: Lockheed Martin Aurora delivers precise, high performance structures that enhance the strength and reliability of the CH-53K aircraft. Aurora Flight Sciences, a Boeing company, produces essential assemblies for Sikorsky’s CH‑53K® King Stallion heavy‑lift helicopter: the main rotor pyl...

06/25/2026

“I enjoy working at Aurora because the possibilities here feel endless,” said Sharon Macumber, staff systems engineer and program manager. “I’ve had the chance to work on platforms of all sizes and across a wide range of subsystems. That variety has helped me build skills in numerous functional areas. It’s been incredibly rewarding to gain experience across so many parts of the industry and to put both my engineering and business degrees to use.”

Sharon holds a Bachelor of Science in Aerospace Engineering and a Master of Business Administration from the University of Cincinnati. After completing two internships with Aurora in 2019 and 2020, she returned full time and now serves as a program manager supporting research and development programs.

While in college, Sharon led a 22-person capstone team to a 3rd-place finish in the SAE Aero Design competition, an experience she credits with preparing her for the leadership responsibilities she has today.

“Being the team lead was one of the hardest but most rewarding things I’ve ever done,” she said. “It showed me how connected people can become when they’re working toward a shared goal.”

When not at work, Sharon enjoys spending time with her dog Mosa.

06/23/2026

The wings have arrived! It's the next big milestone for the X‑65!

Following the successful completion and delivery of the fuselage earlier this year, receiving the wings marks another major step in building this groundbreaking experimental aircraft for Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency - DARPA's CRANE program.

Manufactured at Aurora’s facility in West Virginia, the X‑65’s distinctive triangular wings enable testing of active flow control (AFC) across multiple wing sweeps. The wing design is modular, with replaceable outboard wings and swappable AFC effectors to allow for future testing of additional AFC concepts.

AFC technology could replace traditional flaps and rudders with jets of air, potentially transforming the future of aircraft design.

Our team in Virginia is steadily working through integration as we push toward first flight next year. More updates to come as X‑65 continues to take shape.

06/18/2026

Welcome to Aurora!

This week, interns from our U.S. sites descended on our headquarters in Manassas, VA for a chance to meet our teams and see innovation in action. During their visit, they:

✈️ Toured our facility
🤝 Met with Aurora leadership
🌐 Networked with teams across the organization
📖 Learned about Aurora's history and current programs
🚀 Explored the National Air and Space Museum, Smithsonian Institution Udvar-Hazy Center
🧩 Participated in team-building activities

We're thrilled to host this talented group and support their growth, curiosity, and early‑career journeys. Thank you to everyone who helped make the week a success!

06/16/2026

In June 2015, our Centaur optionally piloted aircraft completed multiple unmanned flights at Griffiss International Airport in New York, marking the first time any large scale, fixed wing aircraft has flown at an FAA-designated unmanned aircraft test site.

Since then, additional flights demonstrated capabilities including 16 hour endurance, flight in the national airspace, and integration with standard air traffic control procedures.

Today, the platform provides a flexible, reliable test bed for customers to explore advanced autonomy, integrate new payloads, and mature next generation aviation technologies.