Aerospace
Australian research group launches carbon fiber manufacturing
CSIRO has begun manufacture of Australia’s first carbon fiber sourced entirely from materials produced in the country. Fiber quality is automotive grade, but the organization has its sights set on aerospace grade material.
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Airlander begins next phase of flight testing
Hybrid Air Vehicles’ Airlander lighter-than-air craft was guided into the sky by chief test pilot Dave Burns on its sixth test flight, the first in its second phase of test flying.
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Dream Chaser completes free-flight test
Dream Chaser inches closer to first flight in the run-up to servicing the International Space Station, starting in 2020.
Read MoreUK's EPSRC forms alliance with ICMAC event
the UK’s EPSRC recently announced that The Future Composites Manufacturing Research Hub (The Hub) has formed a strategic partnership with ICMAC 2018: The International Conference on Manufacturing of Advanced Composites, to be held in Nottingham over two days on July 11-12, 2018.
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V-22 Osprey exceeds 400,000 flight hours
The composites-intensive V-22 Osprey tilrotor aircraft, in service since 2007, has logged more than 400,000 flight hours in theaters throughout the world.
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SolAero-powered wings progressing
SolAero Technologies Corp. has successfully completed ground testing of the integrated solar wings on Bye Aerospace's medium-altitude, long-endurance solar-electric unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV), called StratoAirNet.
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Real-time automated ply inspection (RTAPI) system: CW’s series on automated inspection methods
More composites being used in aircraft, and the pressure for higher production rates means new technologies for automated, in-process inspection while the part is being fabricated. Groups around the world are working on this, and making great strides.
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Improving one-piece aerostructures by automating preforming
IAI’s fully automated “one-shot” RTM production line cuts helicopter seat cost 30% vs. hand layup prepreg.
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Orbital ATK tests motor case for next-gen launch vehicle
The high-strength composite case for the Next Generation Launch system passed operating pressure and compression/tensile line loads.
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GE Aviations opens CMC facility in Alabama
The $200 million facility will manufacture silicon carbide (SiC) materials used to manufacture ceramic matrix composites (CMCs), for GE and LEAP aircraft engines.
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