In a recent episode of the Dawn of Autonomy podcast, I sat down with Ned Tabat, the visionary behind his promising uncrewed aircraft system (UAS) manufacturing start-up, Meadowlark Aircraft Company, to discuss the company’s ambitious plans for 2025 and beyond. This North Dakota-based pioneering business stands ready to take flight, and take the entire UAS industry with it, through its bespoke approach to manufacturing and customization.
From Fortune One to Army of One
The journey that led Ned Tabat to found Meadowlark Aircraft Company speaks volumes about his diverse experience and entrepreneurial spirit. With a Ph.D. in electrical engineering from the University of Illinois, his career has spanned from Bell Labs and academia to management roles at various technology companies.
“I went from AT&T, which at the time was the largest company in the world, to an army of one here about a year ago, starting Meadowlark,” Tabat shared.
That army of one has evolved into a strong but mighty team that includes three other experts who, with Tabat (Digital Engineering), lead Meadowlark’s four business units: John Ibele (Manufacturing), JC Van Liere (Test and Certification) and Lee Nordin (Deployed Systems). Tabat elaborated on his other teammates. “We’re about 12 and we’re going to grow to 220 in about four years time,” he said.
The Genesis of Meadowlark Aircraft Company
The idea for Meadowlark Aircraft Company was born out of necessity. Tabat initially started a company called Demeter Diagnostics, which aimed to fly advanced optical technology on UAS for crop mapping and irrigation management. However, he quickly realized that existing aircraft couldn’t meet his specific requirements for endurance and onboard power.
“I channeled my inner Elon Musk,” Tabat explained, drawing a parallel to SpaceX’s origin. “If you want to have a satellite communication system, you first have to be able to launch those satellites.” This realization led Tabat to pivot towards creating an organization that would listen to clients’ needs and build uncrewed aircraft to their specifications, rather than producing standard models.
The North Dakota Advantage
Meadowlark’s decision to base its operations in North Dakota is no coincidence. This strategic location provides Meadowlark with access to a growing talent pool, supportive government policies and a thriving UAS community.
Tabat praised the state’s supportive ecosystem for UAS development. “What we found (in North Dakota) was a very robust UAS ecosystem, people with a very can-do attitude, very eager to make things work,” he gushed. “Both the local and state government have been very, very supportive of this industry.”
In fact, Tabat named the company “Meadowlark” after the state bird of North Dakota, the Western Meadowlark. This name choice directly reflects the company’s strong ties to the state and its appreciation for the strong local support for Meadowlark’s development.
Bespoke Manufacturing: A New Paradigm
Meadowlark’s unique selling proposition lies in its bespoke manufacturing approach. The company aims to provide customized aircraft solutions tailored to each client’s specific requirements. Tabat emphasized the importance of this approach, stating, “We build it to your specs. We make your ideas take flight.”
The company’s manufacturing process is designed to be both flexible and efficient. Tabat explained, “We are implementing proprietary tools to create accurate pricing and predictable delivery times based on what we have in our factory system.”
This innovative approach allows Meadowlark to offer customization without sacrificing cost-competitiveness or delivery speed. The company’s ambitious goal is to deliver custom aircraft within two weeks of order placement.
The FH125 Strix: Meadowlark’s Flagship Aircraft
Meadowlark has chosen to focus on Group 3 UAS (a category of UA with a max weight of 1320 lbs) as their initial product offering, specifically with their FH125 Strix model. This fixed-wing hybrid propulsion aircraft with a 125-pound takeoff weight is designed for extended surveillance missions and can operate at lower altitudes than traditional UA.
“This aircraft has 16 feet wing tip to wing tip, so it’s significantly large,” Tabat noted of the Strix’s impressive size and capabilities. Several key factors drove Tabat’s decision to launch his offerings with a larger UA:
- Capability Gap: Tabat initially couldn’t find an existing aircraft that met his requirements for endurance and onboard power to support advanced sensors and equipment, so he made one.
- Power Requirements: Group 3 aircraft can accommodate more powerful propulsion systems. This allows for longer endurance and the ability to generate significant onboard electricity for power-hungry payloads like active sensors, ground penetrating radar and laser designators.
- Payload Capacity: With a takeoff weight of 125 pounds for the Strix, these aircraft can carry more substantial and diverse payloads compared to smaller drones.
- Extended Flight Times: The larger size allows for longer flight times. This makes them ideal for extended missions.
- Versatility: These Group 3 UA will be able to operate at low altitudes. This provides flexibility for various applications including agriculture, energy sector inspections and public safety.
- Market Opportunity: Tabat identified a gap in the market for customizable aircraft in this size range. This allows Meadowlark to offer bespoke solutions to clients with specific requirements.
- Regulatory Considerations: Group 3 aircraft should fall under the much-awaited FAA Part 108 rules, which will govern their operations. This regulatory framework will provide a clear path for their integration into the national airspace system (NAS).
By focusing on the “sweet spot” between smaller commercial drones and larger military UAS, Meadowlark aims to provide a versatile platform that can meet a wide range of customer needs while still being manageable in terms of manufacturing and deployment.
The Strix is just the beginning of Meadowlark’s product line. The company is also developing smaller electric rotary-wing aircraft for short-distance delivery applications (RE050) and larger 300-pound fixed-wing hybrid aircraft (FH300) for more demanding missions.
A Multi-Faceted Business Model
But Meadowlark’s business model extends beyond simply selling aircraft. The company has positioned itself as a comprehensive manufacturing and solution provider in the UAS industry. Its diverse business model includes:
- Bespoke Aircraft Manufacturing Excellence: The core of Meadowlark’s business is creating customized aircraft tailored to client specifications. Meadowlark is investing in state-of-the-art manufacturing capabilities to ensure high-quality production at competitive prices.
- Digital Engineering, Testing & Certification: The company utilizes advanced digital engineering tools to rapidly prototype and simulate aircraft designs before physical production. It also has a dedicated team for testing and certifying aircraft to ensure compliance with FAA regulations and industry standards.
- Post-Sales Support: Meadowlark offers comprehensive post-sales support, including pilot training and ongoing maintenance services.
- Contract Manufacturing: The company is open to white-label manufacturing for other designers and companies in the UAS industry.
Partnering Opportunities
In light of its wide range of capabilities, Meadowlark Aircraft Company actively seeks an equally diverse set of partners across various domains to fuel mutual growth and innovation. Tabat outlined five key groups the company hopes to engage:
- Clients: Meadowlark desires to work with organizations across various sectors, including public safety, homeland security, defense, energy and agriculture, who need customized UAS solutions.
- Partners: The company seeks technology partners to collaborate on various off-the-shelf subsystems and components for their aircraft to plug-and-play into its hardware. Tabat emphasized that Meadowlark will take a modular open systems approach (MOSA) in terms of technology partners.
- White Label Designers: Meadowlark offers its manufacturing capabilities to other UAS designers who need a reliable production partner.
- Investors: As a growing startup, Meadowlark is open to investment opportunities to fuel its expansion plans.
- Employees: The company plans to rapidly expand its workforce, from its current team of 12 to 220 employees within four years. “We’re just looking for people who are actually excited about doing this kind of work,” Tabat said.
2025 Goals: Short-Term and Beyond
Meadowlark Aircraft Company has set ambitious goals for 2025 and beyond. The company plans to unveil its first product, the FH125 Strix, at the AUVSI XPONENTIAL conference in Houston this May. Tabat announced, “We will have the capability to take orders at AUVSI in May.”
Besides its product launch at XPO, Meadowlark aims to address critical industry challenges there as well. Tabat’s vision for the company extends beyond just building aircraft. He sees Meadowlark as a catalyst for advancing the entire UAS industry, particularly in areas like onboard detect and avoid systems and manufacturing excellence.
For this reason, the company is organizing a workshop to define a roadmap for onboard detect and avoid systems, a crucial technology for enabling low-altitude operations in uncontrolled airspace. “We need to define a roadmap for the industry for this size aircraft,” Tabat explained.
At a macro-scale, the company remains committed to pushing the boundaries of what’s possible in UAS manufacturing. By combining innovative design, flexible manufacturing and a customer-centric approach, Meadowlark is well-positioned to address the evolving needs of the market. “In the long run, that will be our contribution to the industry: creating this manufacturing system that can be full yet be flexible,” Tabat explained.
As the UAS industry continues to grow and evolve, companies like Meadowlark Aircraft Company will undoubtedly play a crucial role in shaping its future.