UAV Testing Services
via Koble6 x CTS Partnership
Part 107 flight testing, flight testing under COAs, static testing, engine test cells, aerodynamic testing, engineering support, and manufacturing support from one Maryland campus.
38,000 sq ft
facility
3,200 ft
paved runway
40+ yrs
chief pilot experience
3 crews
for 24/7 operations
1-2,000 hp
engine dynamometers
Test Capabilities
Koble6 and CTS provide unmanned aircraft testing services for up to Class 3* UAVs of any endurance. With a 38,000 sq ft engineering facility on Maryland’s Eastern Shore, we can support any test campaign from a 3,200 ft paved runway.
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Fixed-wing unmanned aircraft flight testing
Rotary unmanned aircraft flight testing
Off-site flight testing
Static unmanned aircraft testing
Engine testing and characterization from 1 hp to 2,000 hp
Aerodynamic testing up to 100 mph
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Our 38,000 sq ft facility in Ridgely, MD includes engine dynamometers from 1 to 2,000 hp, static test cells, an electronics lab, a prototyping machine shop with additive manufacturing, a CNC production machine shop, welding and fabrication equipment, manufacturing space, office space, and storage.
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Testing takes place at Gooden Airpark in Ridgely, MD, an active public-use airport with little traffic and a 3,200 ft paved runway, available for daily rental and only 2.5 miles from our facility. Flight testing can overfly large surrounding crop farms for extended testing. Testing has taken place under a number of COAs in Ridgely and at other facilities as well.
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Your pilots, support team, engineers, observers, and customers may participate in testing, provided compliance with test safety.
Team
Derreck Barber
Chief Aerospace Engineer
Joe Anderson
Facility Coordinator
Mike Stevens
Mission Commander and Chief Pilot
Chase Riley
Ground Control Officer
Bruce Pelly
Safety and Emergency Response Engineer
Roger Brul
Airspace Communications Officer
Matt Neibuhr
Fabrication and Emergency Response
Anya Filatova
Contract Coordinator
How a Test Campaign
1
Pre-flight checkout
Staff observe a functional check of UAV flight surfaces, motors/engines, avionics, fail-safe navigation, communications, batteries, fuel systems and fueling. Your pilot and GCO demonstrate failure-response skills at facility.
2
Range setup and spectrum scan
Tents, power (primary and spare generators, UPS), crew radios and air-band radios are set; area scanned for competing frequencies with a 0–6 GHz spectrum analyzer. Daily safety briefing is given and signed by every attendee.
3
Range tests and flights
At range, the airspace communications officer watches for traffic entering the area while the flight line crew supports your sorties. Long-duration, night and high-altitude plans can be staffed by three rotating crews.
Campaign pricing in three steps
Pick your engineering support package, pick each day type, and pick your crew tier.
Campaign cost = engineering support package + days on site × day-type rate + crew hours × crew-tier rate.
Crew is billed by the staffed hour. The 8-hour minimum applies once per campaign, not per day: a five-day campaign flying 2 hours a day would bill 10 crew hours.
Test Design and Data Reduction
Pre- and post- test campaign
$3,000
per campaign
Aerospace test engineering support to design the test campaign to get the data you need and data reduction to your required data formats.
Overtime* not included in listings below. Meals and fuel are billed at cost.
STEP 1.
Choose your test engineering support package
— charged per campaign, optional
STEP 2.
Choose your day type
— charged for each day on site. Includes Field Support Kit
Shop Day
Facility
$700
per day
Indoor test cell or warehouse bay, workspace ($200) and field support kit ($500). Fuels and shop inventory on site.
Test Design and Data Reduction
Post- test campaign
$6,000
per campaign
Everything in Test Design and Data Reduction plus a full independent aerospace analysis with a focus of your choice
Range Day
Facility
$1,600
per day
Everything in Shop Day plus runway/taxiway access ($900) and crop-field “racetrack” overflight.
Test Design and Data Reduction
Design, build, test, manufacturing
Quote
Customized
Experienced UAV design, build, test, and manufacturing support throughout product development process
Extended Ops
Quote
per campaign
Three-crew 24/7 rotation, night flying, high altitude, diving and target tactics, or remote ranges for higher-risk testing
STEP 3.
Choose your crew tier
— per staffed hour, 8-hour minimum once per campaign, measured from pre-flight brief to end of flight operations
Tier 1 - Safety
$125
per staffed hour
Safety / fire / emergency officer. For shop, static and engine testing.
Tier 2 - Range Support
$275
per staffed hour
Safety officer plus airspace communications officer. You supply the pilot in command and GCS operator.
Tier 3 · Full Flight Line
$575
per staffed hour at test range ($425/hr at facility)
Certified UAV pilot, certified ground station operator, airspace communications officer and safety officer. Turnkey.
Example: Performance Analysis + Range Day for 5 days + Tier 2 for 5 days at 2 hr/day = $6,000 + 5 × $1,600 + 10 × $275 = $16,750.
Additional Info
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Aerospace engineer - $200/hr
General technician - $125/hr
Fabricator / machinist - $150/hr
Private 500 sq ft office - $1,500/mo
Warehouse storag - $1.00/sq ft/mo
Dynamometer / test cell - Quote
Aerodynamic testing - Quote
Meals - At cost
Fuels - At cost
Available: AvGas, Jet-A, 93 octane w/ethanol, VP 40:1 93
octane, 100+ octane racing fuel, and more
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ncluded in every day type and has everything you need to execute a test campaign: tables and chairs, 10 ft × 10 ft tents, primary and spare generators, 1500 VA UPS, 1.9 GHz crew radios, two air-band radios, 0–6 GHz spectrum analyzer, fire extinguishers, first aid kits, eye protection, ear protection, spill kits, lithium battery disposal, fans, cones, weather gear, overnight indoor storage, and more.
Bringing your own field equipment? Remove the field support kit from any day type for a $500/day credit.
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Three flight line crews are available for 24/7 operations: long-duration flights exceeding 10 hours, night flying, high-altitude flying, diving and target tactics. Flight testing can be arranged at more remote locations for higher risk flight testing.
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Daily safety briefings, signed by every attendee
Eye and hearing protection required during engine operation or above 85 dB
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Best Western, Denton, MD (410) 479-8400 – Fairfield Inn & Suites by Marriott, Easton (410) 822-0050 – additional hotels in Easton and Kent Island
*Crew rates do not include overtime; hours worked are limited by the situation and staff ability to stay on site. Some staff are bound to limited hours under Part 107.
Contact Us
Koble6 LLC
16700 Barnesville Rd, Boyds, MD 20841
CAGE 1EWY8 – SAM UEI P77GZSMEG8Z7
Combined Technology Solutions, LLC
2 N Maple Ave, Bldg C, Door 7, POB 887, Ridgely, MD 21660
CAGE 61JD8 – SAM UEI Y3RJDJRT66B4