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A Hybrid Manufacturer For A Hybrid Airplane: An Update On V-22 Osprey …

A Hybrid Manufacturer For A Hybrid Airplane: An Update On V-22 Osprey Manufacturing

By Robbin Laird

rlaird@aol.com

The importance of a manufacturing renaissance for national power and security is clear: Without a strong manufacturing sector, the foundation for America’s security is in jeopardy. No argument for this case is clearer than that of the V-22 Osprey tiltrotor, which both lands as a rotorcraft and flies as a plane. This hybrid aircraft has revolutionized not just the U.S. Marine Corps, but the manufacturers who produce it.

The Marines are the only tiltrotor-enabled assault force in the world, allowing the service to achieve mission success by inserting forces with speed into areas over long range. The aircraft has led to a significant transformation of assault forces able to navigate a battlespace from both sea and land without facing the dangers presented by slow transit via traditional rotorcraft.

Last year, I flew multiple times on Ospreys as the Marines were exercising landing and exiting from areas of operation. The capability of the aircraft to arrive from different locations every time is just one of the safety factors made possible with tiltrotor aviation.

But all of this would not happen without the manufacturing prowess of the “hybrid” company behind the Osprey: Bell-Boeing. The two companies work in tandem to deliver Ospreys to the Marines and Air Force, which flies its own version of the aircraft. The success of the program is opening up export markets as well, with the Japanese being the first
Article source: http://www.manufacturingnews.com/news/2015/V-22-Osprey-0827152.html

Boeing’s New Folding-Wing Jet Hits Design Milestone

The first model of the 777X Boeing airliner completed its firm configuration milestone on Aug. 27.

The 777X series will be Boeing’s largest and most efficient twin-engine jets, following in the footsteps of the 777 and 787 Dreamliner, and the first in the series to be developed is the 777-9. Hitting the firm configuration milestone means that configuration trade studies, required to finalize the airplane’s capability and basic design, have been completed. Wind tunnel tests, aerodynamic performance, and structural loads are examined in order to allow the team to have a baseline for the design of the parts, assemblies, and other systems which will be needed to build the airplane. After that, it’s on to production.

“It’s great to see the airlines and industry team side-by-side with us as we achieve this important milestone,” said Bob Feldmann, vice president and general manager of the 777X program, Boeing Commercial Airplanes, in a press release. “The team has followed a disciplined process to complete all of the requirements for this stage of the program.”

The 777X planes have a wingspan of 71.8 meters in flight, with a folding wing tip that lets them lose 23 feet of that width on the ground. The engines are GE9Xs, supplied by GE Aviation.

“The program is right where we want it to be,” said Feldmann. “We have an airplane and production system that are on track and on schedule, and we remain laser focused on meeting our commitments to our customers.”

Along with the large, folding wingspan, the 777X series

Article source: http://www.manufacturing.net/news/2015/08/boeings-new-folding-wing-jet-hits-design-milestone

FAA restrictions to impact small plane travel – KTVA.com

ANCHORAGE –

In anticipation of President Barack Obama’s arrival, the Federal Aviation Administration released a series of notices Thursday expanding on when airspace restrictions will be in place for aircraft flying into or out of the Anchorage area.

Commercial aircraft that follow Transportation Safety Board security measures will not be affected by the temporary flight restrictions – or TFRs – but traffic at Merrill Field and Lake Hood Seaplane Base will be limited or prohibited from flying during certain times.

The first TFR will be in place from 1 p.m. on Monday, Aug. 31 through 11 a.m. on Tuesday, Sept. 1. A second will follow from 6:15 p.m. on Tuesday until 10:30 a.m. on Wednesday Sept. 2.

During those times, aircraft must follow a number of rules when taking off or landing. Notably, they will have to pass a security checkpoint set up by the TSA. If departing, the aircraft will be examined at their departing airport.

If arriving in Anchorage, flights must first go through a checkpoint at the Palmer Municipal Airport. Each security check must be scheduled at least 24 hours in advance through the TSA. Reservations for screening can be made by calling 907-771-2950 between 6 a.m. and 10 p.m. beginning Friday, Aug. 28.

Pilots will be required to maintain constant contact with air traffic control in Anchorage. Criminal and civil penalties were listed as possible actions to be taken against pilots

Article source: http://www.ktva.com/faa-restrictions-to-impact-small-plane-travel-516/

A strengthening Erika causes fatal mudslides in Dominica, heads toward Hispaniola

Tropical Storm Erika, which unleashed deadly mudslides in Dominica on Thursday, has taken a turn toward Hispaniola, setting up a collision with the island nation that could decide what happens in South Florida.

At 11 p.m., Erika was located 135 miles south, southeast of San Juan with maximum sustained winds of 45 mph. Erika continued at 17 mph on its westward course, dumping more than 12 inches of rain overnight on Dominica, where four people died in severe flooding and mudslides. On Sunday and Monday, National Hurricane Center forecasters say the storm could begin to turn toward the north, although they warn that the long-range outlook remains uncertain.

In the meantime, forecasters predict more heavy rain — four to eight inches, with a foot possible in some areas — early Friday as the storm nears the Virgin Islands and Puerto Rico, where drought conditions have increased the risk of flash floods and mudslides.

Erika is still predicted to become a hurricane by Monday, but it faces several hurdles first. Over the next 48 hours, the storm will likely continue to encounter strong wind shear. Depending on how close it comes to Hispaniola, it could also be crippled by the island’s high mountains. But a weaker storm could also mean trade winds point Erika more directly at South Florida.

“Its center continues to drift a little to the south, which means it’s going to have a tough time avoiding Hispaniola, and that would tilt the balance,” said Weather Underground meteorologist Jeff Masters. “It’s more

Article source: http://www.miamiherald.com/news/nation-world/world/article32606145.html

‘Running Hare’ sculpture coming to Route 66

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Article source: http://kdminer.com/main.asp?SectionID=1&SubsectionID=1&ArticleID=67094

North Charleston’s InterTech looking to 3-D printing to make aerospace parts

The InterTech Group is working with the University of South Carolina to build parts that could be used on Boeing’s 787 and other aircraft through the use of three-dimensional printing, CEO Anita Zucker said Wednesday.

The initiative, said to be among the first of its kind in the nation, is part of InterTech’s ongoing collaboration with USC’s McNair Center for Aerospace Innovation and Research.

The North Charleston-based company is providing funding, and an engineer with its TIGHITCO division is working full-time at the center.

“The use of 3-D printing is still in its newest application stages,” said Zucker, who attended the opening day of the S.C. Aerospace Industry Conference Expo in Columbia. “It’s amazing what the possibilities are.”

TIGHITCO already has made ducts for helicopters through a partnership with Stratasys, a 3-D printing manufacturer, but the new initiative would go far beyond that with a wide range of parts for fixed-wing and rotary-wing aircraft.

Zafer Gurdal, director of the McNair Center, said marketable parts are still a year or two away, but he expects samples of the work will be completed by the end of this year.

Patents for some of the work are scheduled to be filed this week.

Zucker said some of the parts will be made from man-made composite materials like those on the 787 Dreamliner, which is built at Boeing’s campus in North Charleston. Once initial work is completed at USC, InterTech

Article source: http://www.postandcourier.com/article/20150826/PC05/150829469

Feds shouldn’t ground remote-control models

Doris Boyer wants the government to protect the American people from drones? Drone is a military weapon. Also, it’s the name of a male honeybee.

I have flown radio-control model airplanes for 60 years. Last week, I flew my new small airplane with a video “eye” that gives me the pure visual experience of flying like a bird, or superhero. It entails the same technology as a common smartphone.

The national parks now forbid flying model gliders on the dunes that had this pastime before the parks. The FAA wants to treat and restrict hobbyist model airplanes like real airplanes, with complete disregard to a congressional mandate to not restrict the hobby.

There is so much advanced technology available to build on.

Boyer is right to be frightened by the actions of jerks and the government. We must advance in spite of them.

Jim Petro, Gary

Article source: http://www.nwitimes.com/news/opinion/mailbag/feds-shouldn-t-ground-remote-control-models/article_cf229b78-d4e5-5e68-8331-1090f32396f6.html

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