Val-E was built for SotonUAV as a technology demonstrator for the use of natural fibres (flax, hemp, etc) as a composite reinforcement material.​​

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The challenge with this project was to produce an aircraft that was as close structurally to the existing carbon and foam version as possible. This is difficult because natural fibres are substantially weaker and more flexible than carbon fibre.

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We produced the fuselage in woven flax fibre. The wing torsion box is made up of a 3D printed LW-PLA core, laminated with unidirectional flax fibre skins cured under pressure, which are the primary stress members. Small amounts of carbon fibre and titanium are used at key high stress locations. 

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