Pratt & Whitney to produce advanced metal and CMC turbine airfoils in North Carolina
New 1 million-square-foot production facility follows CMC R&D center and publicized strategy for next-gen engines.
Ginger Gardiner
Senior Editor, CompositesWorld
Fraunhofer IPT automates production of thermoplastic CFRP engine fan blades
Successful first demonstrations on 16-mm-thick CF/PA12 to be followed by CF/PEEK tapes and embedded sensors for structural health monitoring (SHM).
Hexcel, Safran expand contract for composite materials in commercial aerospace programs
Long-term supplier contract amended to include Hexcel’s HexTow IM7 for the GE9X engine, as well as core, adhesives, prepregs and fabrics for additional aerospace applications.
Avions Mauboussin launches STOL hybrid-hydrogen aircraft
Hybrid Zéphyr engine for electric/hydrogen capabilities and a natural fiber composite-based design revive and reinvent an energy-efficient aircraft brand.
GE Aviation GE9X engine achieves FAA certification
Ten GE9X engines have been delivered to power Boeing’s four 777X flight test airplanes after completing just under 5,000 hours and 8,000 cycles for certification.
Nikkiso, Airbus partner for UltraFan demonstrator project
The project aims to provide nacelle components for the engine UltraFan demonstrator. Nikkiso’s role is to reduce manufacturing costs by a new out-of-autoclave curing method.
Boom Supersonic, Rolls-Royce collaborate on Overture aircraft engine
The agreement aims to identify a propulsion system complementary to the supersonic aircraft.
Aerojet Rocketdyne to provide ULA Vulcan Centuar launch vehicle's key propulsion
The company will supply its two RL10 rocket engines to power the vehicle’s upper stage, thrusters and composite overwrapped pressure vessels.
Grace Nehls
Assistant Editor, CompositesWorld
GKN Aerospace Sweden joins feasibility studies for future fighter engine technology
The participation furthers GKN Aerospace’s growth in the defense market and ensures Sweden’s increased air combat capabilities.
Boom Supersonic to roll out XB-1 demonstrator at virtual event Oct. 7
The supersonic jet, incorporating carbon fiber construction, is slated for first flight in 2021.
NASA rocket motors arrive at Kennedy Space Center for Artemis program
The rocket motors are the next step toward NASA’s Artemis I space launch in 2021.
Epic delivers first all-carbon fiber E1000 aircraft
Epic Aircraft delivers a composite, single-engine turboprop aircraft to customers despite recent pandemic-related setbacks.
Airbus A220 production hangar opens in U.S.
Airbus opens a new A220 final assembly line at its Mobile, Ala., U.S., location and begins assembly of the first A220 for JetBlue.
Composites suppliers, fabricators respond to coronavirus
Companies across the composites industry supply chain share how the COVID-19 pandemic is affecting their businesses, and how they are available to help.
Virgin Galactic completes milestones for Mach 3 aircraft concept
In addition to unveiling the high-speed aircraft design, Virgin Galactic signed an MOU with Rolls-Royce. This follows the company’s completion of its Mission Concept Review and FAA authorization.
Grace Nehls
Assistant Editor, CompositesWorld
Second Boeing 777X completes first flight
The second of four 777X test aircraft made its first flight on April 30 to test handling characteristics and other aspects of airplane performance.
Composites in the race to space
Advanced materials use in current and upcoming NASA missions.
Rolls-Royce starts manufacture of world's largest fan blades, made with composites, for UltraFan demonstrator
CFRP blades and fan case cut weight for twin-engine aircraft by 700 kilograms
Episode 30: Gary Sharpless, Concordia Fibers, Boston Materials Inc.
Composites industry veteran and marketing advisor Gary Sharpless discusses his more than 35 years in the industry and his current advisory roles with Concordia Fibers and Boston Materials.
Boeing 777X achieves first successful flight
The 777X jetliner, which features the longest carbon fiber composite aircraft wings yet manufactured, took to the skies for its maiden flight on Jan. 25.
The markets: Industrial applications (2020)
A number of manufacturers in the composites industry have relatively quietly carved out a lucrative and growing share in the market for brackets, fixtures, ductwork, pallets, and other often hidden and typically less newsworthy parts that nevertheless require complex shapes, must perform at high levels and are targeted for weight, cost and production-time reductions.
Plant tour: Hexcel, Salt Lake City, Utah, U.S.
The scale, precision, speed and quality of carbon fiber manufacture has evolved substantially since the material’s modern introduction in the late 1960s. Hexcel offers a glimpse of the state of the art today.
Jeff Sloan
Editor-in-Chief, CompositesWorld
Hyundai Motor Co., Uber unveil air taxi model
At the Consumer Electronics Show (CES), the companies announced an aerial ridesharing partnership and a new eVTOL design.
Rolls-Royce opens composite fan blade facility in Bristol, U.K.
The facility is developing carbon fiber composite fan blades and fan cases for the Rolls-Royce UltraFan jet engine demonstrator.
The markets: Aerospace (2020)
Despite the 737 MAX groundings, several new programs on the horizon portend increasing use of composites in commercial aerostructures for several decades.
Albany Engineered Composites to work on Wing of Tomorrow program
Albany has signed a two-year agreement with Airbus to apply its 3D reinforced composites technology to next-generation wing substructure applications.
Solvay supplies high-performance thermoplastic film to Safran
Solvay will supply Halar ECTFE high-performance thermoplastic films for Safran’s LEAP engine acoustic panels.
Albany International acquires CirComp GmbH
German innovator in RTM will help Albany Engineered Composites accelerate technology development in thermoplastic composites
