SAMPE Journal -September/October 2011 - 18

Europe News & Views

Gary Turner

European Section Editor

Composites at this Year's Paris Airshow The world's largest airshow takes place every two years at Le Bourget airport just north of the city. For years – perhaps decades – each of these huge global events has exhibited steadily expanding quantities of advanced composite structures and materials. And lately more on key mfg processes plus related R&D has become visible on the exhibition stands. To begin with, it is worth noting that the so-called “airshow” is actually four events in one – each with its own distinct flavor and specific composites emphasis, some of which is hardly visible to the casual eye. To wit: 1. The actual flight display teams with composite content in most of the models now flying. This is usually hidden from view, even on all-composite aircraft such as the Cirrus and Diamond General Aviation types, the highly composite modern helicopters, plus large Boeing and Airbus models, now with tens of tons of primary composites structure in each airframe. 2. Likewise the sprawling static displays of over one hundred aircraft, varying in size from the enormous Airbus A380 to often diminutive UAVs, contain hefty composite primary and secondary structures, somewhat more visible (to the knowing eye) since the planes can be inspected at close quarters. 3. Although the Paris Airshow is not a composites event per se, the dozens of halls and hundreds of company and institute stands exhibit an ever broader range of non-metallic materials and structures, with state of the art technology (more on this below). 4. Lastly, composite parts, photos of completed projects and factories etc. have even been sighted in some of the many chalets, where top management congregate to discuss new business opportunities while enjoying the show. One of the show's eyecatchers, by the way, was SonicStar, a Mach 3.5 business jet being developed by Hypermach Europe Aeronautics, utilizing extensive high-temperature advanced composite structure. They say it should be flying by 2021. The latest M&P technology at this and similar events was impressive. Some of it is derived from ongoing European FP7 Framework research program and related major composite aircraft development efforts such as ALCAS, FUBACOMP AND MAAXIMUS. Reports on them have been part of recent SAMPE conferences in Europe. Such hot aerospace topics as automated high volume production, new infusion techniques, large RTM parts, out of autoclave curing, thermoplastic primary structures and various new material forms were visible on a variety of stands. New technologies further included videos or presentations on dry fiber placement, fully automated RTM production of highly integrated parts, continuous preforming of frames and stringers, integral composite multispar control surfaces, automated vacuum bagging and sealing, combined 3-in-1 bagging materials to aid this process, pulse-motion line for fuselage assembly, plus a totally new method of building composite aircraft fuselages, akin to the snap-fit together of small model airplane parts (previously unheard of for large transport aircraft). These are only a few examples. We expect to hear and see more on such exciting developments at upcoming SAMPE Europe events, such as SETEC 11, taking place in Leiden, The Netherlands, 14 - 15 September. We hope to see you there.

SAMPE Journal, Volume 47, No. 5, September/October 2011

SAMPE Journal -September/October 2011

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of SAMPE Journal -September/October 2011