Considering the events of September 11th and beyond, rapid response and deployment have become much more critical to military strategy and tactics than in the years past. This change has necessitated the military to refocus efforts on the increased need for rapid transport, delivery and deployment of forces and equipment. As a result, additional airlift capabilities are needed, and using carbon fibres and composite structures in military large-body cargo aircraft greatly increases their loading capacity. As an example, the Boeing C-17 Globemaster III military aircraft has a maximum payload capacity of over 170,000 pounds and a maximum gross takeoff weight of 585,000 pounds. Currently, more than 16,000 pounds of a completed C-17 aircraft is assembled from composite materials. Composite structures can be found throughout the plane in various shapes, forms and combinations, all designed to improve flight performance, increase payload capacity and reduce overall weight. The C-17 tailcone assembly showcases the large composite structure manufacturing and assembly capabilities. The final tailcone is a 3.7 m long and 3.4 m wide, single-piece carbon epoxy structure, reinforced with longitudinal carbon epoxy stiffeners and metallic frames. As payload and delivery capabilities continue to be critical to the needs of a global economy, thinking in composites applies to non-military applications as well.


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    Title :

    Composites play ever larger role in military and comercial air cargo


    Additional title:

    Verbundwerkstoffe spielen eine wachsende Rolle in militärischen und zivilen Transportflugzeugen


    Contributors:

    Published in:

    Publication date :

    2002


    Size :

    3 Seiten, 3 Bilder


    Type of media :

    Article (Journal)


    Type of material :

    Print


    Language :

    English