E-06: Taking Aerospace Manufacturing to New Heights

Founded by an ex-Navy pilot, VX Aerospace strives to be more than an aerospace manufacturer

VX Aerospace
Dynamic composites are extremely useful in the advancement of the aerospace industry. The use of composites can reduce the weight of aerospace vehicles up to 20 to 50%. They have a high thermal stability and are resistant to fatigue and corrosion. With the ever growing demand within the industry for something state-of-the-art, it is vital that aerospace manufacturers be both adaptable and innovative.

VX Aerospace is a dynamic, advanced composites design and manufacturing company located in Morganton, North Carolina. Their facility sits in the foothills of the Appalachian Mountain range, an hour’s drive east of Asheville, North Carolina. But VX Aerospace is more than its name would suggest. The organization is beginning to branch out into ATV manufacturing.

I sat down and talked with Robert Skillen, founder and chief engineer of VX Aerospace. He founded the company in 2007, following his stint in the Navy as an F-14 aviation pilot. Robert obtained an aerospace engineering degree while attending the prestigious U.S. Naval Academy.

In this episode of Clocking In, we discuss Robert's background and role within the organization, the philosophy he uses with training the company’s workforce and whether pilots may become obsolete in the future and more.

LINKS
NCMEP
VX Aerospace

ABOUT
Phil Mintz is the Executive Director of NC State Industry Expansion Solutions (IES) and Director of the North Carolina Manufacturing Extension Partnership (NCMEP). At NCMEP, Phil drives outreach to NC manufacturers, builds relationships with federal and state leaders and coordinates efforts to drive profitable manufacturing growth in the state. He also leads the broader IES Extension Operations outreach unit of regional managers, technical specialists and business development leaders providing business engagement, assessment and improvement tools. This includes statewide peer networks, ISO 9000 quality management systems, Six Sigma, Lean manufacturing, environmental services, and health and safety solutions.

Robert Skillen is the founder and chief engineer of VX Aerospace. Robert has a degree in aerospace engineering which he obtained from the U.S. Naval Academy. Robert spent his time in the Navy as an F-14 aviator. He has more than 25 years of manufacturing experience which includes work in both Navy depot operations and on the MIL-Handbook-5 and NAS standards committees.

Check out the Clocking In: Voices of NC Manufacturing website.