Model Airplanes

When the U.S. Air Force’s sixth Advanced Extremely High Frequency (AEHF-6) satellite launches into space, a 3-D printed part will be along for the ride. A Remote Interface Unit, an aluminum electronic enclosure designed to hold avionic circuits, will be the first 3-D printed part certified for use on a Lockheed Martin (NYSE: LMT) military satellite.

By going from multiple machined parts to one 3-D printed part, the team was able to save time in the design and production cycle, as well as increase the quality and consistency of the units. The lead time for manufacturing the part went from six months to only 1.5 months, with assembly time also being reduced from 12 hours to just three hours.

“3-D printing provides the ability to rapidly implement innovation by controlling production from design through implementation with one digital model,” said Iris Bombelyn, vice president of Protected Communications at Lockheed Martin Space Systems. “By providing affordable, innovative solutions for our customers with a reduced timeline, we are able to adjust to the rapidly changing environment of military space.”

AEHF is a global military satellite communications system that provides protected, assured communication for strategic commanders and tactical warfighters. Lockheed Martin will deliver the fourth AEHF vehicle in 2017. AEHF-5 and AEHF-6 are in production and are on track to launch in 2018 and 2019, respectively.

The qualified part onboard AEHF-6 was built using a process called Laser Powder Bed Fusion additive manufacturing, in which a laser melts and fuses aluminum metal powder layer-by-layer to build a

Article source: http://www.yourdefencenews.com/lockheed+martin+is+using+3-d+printed+parts+for+u.s.+military+satellites_141225.html

http://www.sfgate.com/business/article/New-design-promises-to-make-sitting-in-the-middle-11050435.php

By Alix Martichoux, SFGATE

Updated 4:57 pm, Tuesday, April 4, 2017

• Article source: http://www.sfgate.com/business/article/New-design-promises-to-make-sitting-in-the-middle-11050435.php

NORTH CHARLESTON, South Carolina Boeing Co’s (BA.N) newest and largest Dreamliner model, the 787-10, took off successfully on its first flight on Friday, kicking off a flight test program for the high-tech jet. Later on, the plane will fly to Seattle to continue flight testing, Boeing’s commentators said on the webcast. Hale said. “We’ve done exactly the right thing in the design of this airplane”.

The flight, webcast by Boeing, took off shortly after 6:30 Pacific time.

The 787-10 is the second and final “stretch”, or elongation, of the original 787-8, which debuted in 2011. Airlines can choose engines from General Electric Co (GE.N) of the USA, or Britain’s Rolls-Royce Holdings PLC (RR.L).

The 787-10’s progress on today’s flight can be tracked on the FlightAware website. The aircraft had been in the air for a little more than five hours after taking off around 9:30 a.m. ET.

Weather had been a concern early on, with thunderstorms predicted for early in the day.

“It was fantastic”, Bryan said of the flight.

While Boeing’s other Dreamliner variants are built both in SC and at its larger assembly line in Everett, Wash., the 787-10 will be produced exclusively at the North Charleston facility.

The plane, a Dreamliner 787-10 was unveiled on February 17 during a visit from President Donald Trump.

Singapore Airlines, expected to be the launch customer for the 787-10, congratulated Boeing on the first flight. Airlines will “look to both lock in positions for future deliveries and also as replacements for aging (Airbus) A330s,

Article source: http://normangeestar.net/2017/04/02/largest-model-of-boeing-s-787-dreamliner-makes-its-first-flight/