Our #SBW Appreciation Tour recently landed at Sikorsky Memorial Airport, where we met with the leaders behind WaveAerospace. This Stratford-based startup builds UAVs (unmanned aerial vehicles) designed for extreme weather operations and missions, surpassing current market capabilities.
Their mantra: "We fly where no one else can."
Intrigued, we entered the hangar they call home, greeted by Co-Founder Steven Bofill and Dana Eidsness Vice President International & US Relations, surrounded by state-of-the-art high-performance drones and a dedicated team of engineers.
"We are revolutionizing aviation," explained Bofill. "What differentiates us? Flying in conditions that ground others." That can mean both harsh and dangerous conditions. Expansion is imminent, with plans for 30 new hires by late Fall to meet growing demand.
Eidsness added, "Challenges lie in system development as we grow, developing compliance protocol, and certifications."
Its game changing product offerings include the Huntress, (pictured below), an unmanned multi-copter that boasts speeds over 500 mph, which is slated for release next year. Capabilities of these UAVs can fly in winds exceeding 80mph for extended periods and even withstand arctic conditions.
WaveAerospace applications span diverse sectors, the most obvious being the military with the ability of one of these designs to fly for four hours at a time from ship to ship and ship to shore. Beyond that, these serve police and fire, natural disasters, search and rescue, emergency services, car chases, surveying oil fields, port monitoring, marine surveillance, medical organ transport, and even atmospheric testing.
CONNSTEP, Inc.'s team of Miles Herrick, Doug Narins, Phoebe Gonzales, Barbara Hannan were awed by the groundbreaking technology but still found time to share cookies, shake hands, and distribute treats to everyone, keeping true to showing gratitude to small businesses like this.
Interesting Fact You Didn't Know: These UAVs are already making real-world impact. WaveAerospace's UAV played a crucial role in a recent search and rescue mission after a small plane crashed and went missing in Westchester County, NY last year, able to travel where traditional resources could not go.
We drove away with an appreciation for the new heights being made in aviation right here in Connecticut!
Thank you vendors!
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