Advanced composite materials and associated structural technologies have been, and are being, investigated and developed for application to high-performance military aircraft. The development of both empennage and wing first generation structural technologies have demonstrated significant weight savings utilizing boron/epoxy composite materials. An aircraft fuselage technology is being developed, having completed one major component; a second generation empennage development effort is fabricating full-scale components, with both efforts using graphite/epoxy composite materials. These two development efforts continue to show considerable weight savings potential. The successful boron/epoxy structural technology development efforts have resulted in application of this composite material for production aircraft components, such as stabilizers and full depth honeycomb secondary structure.
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