August 14, 2025

The Silicon Valley of Drones | Robert Lunnie

12 minutes

In this episode of Hangar X Studios, host John Ramstead sits down with aerospace professor and Air Force veteran Robert Lunnie, live from VertiCon. Together, they dive into the challenges and breakthroughs of designing vertical take-off and landing (VTOL) aircraft, focusing on subscale prototyping, flight testing, and real-time transition from vertical to horizontal flight.

Lunnie walks us through his collaborative work with XTI Aerospace, explains the development process behind experimental models like the TriFan, and shares how the University of North Dakota (UND) has become a powerhouse in drone R&D and autonomous flight systems. This episode is a deep technical dive into the future of flight and the dynamic ecosystem driving aerospace innovation.

Episode Highlights

The complexity behind transitioning VTOL aircraft from vertical to horizontal flight

3D printing and rapid prototyping of XTI's TriFan models

Building a six to eight-foot subscale drone for aerodynamic testing

Development of an immersive ground control station

UND's ecosystem for UAS testing, including Grand Sky and the Hive incubator

How UND supports both large defense contractors and startup innovators

Real-world data acquisition from drone prototypes to inform full-scale designs

Key Points with Timestamps

[00:00:03] The core challenge: reliable vertical to horizontal VTOL transitions

[00:00:47] Intro and sponsorship by XTI Aerospace

[00:01:21] Robert Lunnie’s background: Air Force, UND professor, drone R&D

[00:02:21] Turning CAD models into 3D printed subscale TriFan prototypes

[00:03:43] Testing the transition flight on a 3-ft exposed-frame prototype

[00:04:54] Articulating nacelles vs. quad rotor flight mechanisms

[00:06:01] Designing a full ground control station for immersive UAS piloting

[00:06:48] UND’s aerospace capabilities and advanced flight simulators

[00:07:58] Inside the Hive incubator and its collaboration with XTI Aerospace

[00:08:48] Grand Sky: shared airspace and radar feedback for UAS testing

[00:10:17] Northrop Grumman’s Global Hawk retrofits into Range Hawks

[00:10:41] Project timelines: 6–8 months to transition from 3-ft to 6-ft prototype

[00:12:02] Gathering and translating prototype flight data into engineering insight

Guest Bio: Robert Lunnie

Robert Lunnie is a retired U.S. Air Force officer and current professor of aerospace at the University of North Dakota, one of the world’s premier flight schools. With a background in nuclear systems and unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), Lunnie leads advanced research in drone prototyping, flight dynamics, and human-machine interface development. He collaborates with industry leaders like XTI Aerospace and fosters innovation through UND’s cutting-edge drone research centers, including the Hive and the Gorman Test Center.

https://www.linkedin.com/in/robert-lunnie-465862a1/

About Embry‑Riddle Aeronautical University

Embry‑Riddle Aeronautical University is a globally recognized leader in aviation and aerospace education. With campuses in Daytona Beach, Florida, and Prescott, Arizona, as well as a robust online learning network, the university offers specialized programs in engineering, aviation, aerospace, business, cybersecurity, and more. Known for its cutting-edge research, industry partnerships, and strong emphasis on hands-on learning, Embry‑Riddle prepares students for careers in some of the world’s most dynamic and high-tech industries. Its graduates are highly sought after by major aerospace companies, airlines, and government agencies worldwide.

Notable Quotes

“Lift off the wing is a wonderful, beautiful thing.”
– Robert Lunnie

“Trying to get a model to transition from vertical to horizontal safely, reliably, and repeatedly is a lot of work.”
– Robert Lunnie

“We’re not super concerned about longevity. We’re learning about that vertical to horizontal transition.”
– Robert Lunnie

“Once you start learning what we have up there [at UND], it’s a no-brainer to come up and do your development and testing.”
– Robert Lunnie

...more

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By John Ramstead