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Europe's double-decker giant "Aerospace Engineering" provides an overview of the issues and technocal challenges faced by Airbus in the development of the A380. Quiet please Several technologies are under development at GE Aircraft Engines that address strigent demands from the airlines for reduced noise emissions from new aircraft engines. Thermal material solutions Astrium has begun investigating several new metallic thermal protection system concepts for reusable launch vehicles. Bringing the best of both worlds in engine technology GE Aircraft Engines and Pratt & Whitney together developed the GP7000, a powerplant alternative for the Airbus A380 superjumbo aircraft.

Fuel-tank inerting A series of aircraft flight and ground tests evaluated the effectiveness of ground-based inerting as a means of reducing the flammability of center wing furl tanks used in the commercial transport fleet. Making sense of quality management The International Aerospace Quality Group is a unique vehicle for communicating quality system standards and initiatives through the supply base. Top technologies for 2002 "Aerospace Engineering's" annual review of the technologies chosen by its readers to be the most significant.

The dawn of the jet age: the first 10 years One of the ironies of aviation history is that the most obvious potential power source for a fixed-wing aircraft was barely considered by the early pioneers. Airflow simulation for winglets Embraer engineers used CFD to visualize flow patterns around wings for a design retrofit. Aircraft-engine-mounting analysis Engineers from Honeywell adapted a rapid analysis approach to develop and validate a complex propulsion system. Reshaping F-16 production Following its contract with the Joint Strike Fighter program, Lockheed Martin is reconfiguring its F-16 assembly line in preparation for long-term JSF production starting later this year.

The growth of an industry This second of a three-part series highlighting the centennial of flight focuses on how World War I and II changed the face of aviation technology. Portable test system Boeing uses VXI via KineticSystems to achieve greater dependability, accuracy, and efficiency in its digital distortion analyzer for propulsion systems. Fire-resistant composites for engine nacelles Engineers from Boeing treated fiberglass/polyimide and graphite/polyimide laminates with various phosphorylated polymers to obtain fire-resistant resins for use in harsh environments. Accelerating the design process The use of desktop analysis software can lead to a faster and more efficient process for the design and manufacture of aerospace components, according to SolidWorks.

Telling the future Technology and the environment, BWBs and UAVs, and nuclear power may be the forces for the future of aerospace engineering. Top technologies for 2003 "Aerospace Engineering's" annual review of the technologies chosen by its editors and readers to be the most significant. Supporting aerospace design The proper use of COTS technologies can change the range of new processes and products in the electrical sector. American attack UAVs- Part II The second article in a two-part series of a perspective on more than 100 years of unmanned flight details some of the major developments in the use of unmanned aerial vehicles for combat.

Military maneuvers Electronics and avionics designers put control in the pilot's hand. Propelling commercial aircraft GE Aircraft Engines calls upon its engineers, and those of its "competitors," to develop a series of next-generation engines. Bonded repairs Aircraft structure repair is process-sensitive, requiring attention to detail, particularly in terms of both composite and metal surface preparation.

Wiring UAVs The development of electronic architectures for UAVs and UCAVs marks a major step-change in the evolution of military aircraft as significant as the emergence of jet propulsion more than 60 years ago. Distributed simulation A new modeling technique is applied to a HALE UAV power system using detailed subsystem simulations of the turbine engine, generators, and loads. Tradition, transition, and transformation SAE 100 Future look: As the sun sets on the first 100 years of SAE, we refllect on a proud and rich tradition of contribution to the transportation industry. The battle for information flow SAE 100 Future look: Epic Data recognizes that the recent development of highly secure, futuristic real-time information flows provide a tremendous competitive advantage to field commanders making life or death decisions.

Top technologies for 2004 "Aerospace Engineering's" annual review of the technologies chosen by its readers to be the most significant. Tooling around in the computer Much of the latest software is very capable, but learning how to get the best out of it, and getting the business processes right, is the key to success.

Flying safer Software is being designed to predict pending failures, warn pilots, and maybe even fly the plane. CMM + laser probe = complete inspection Sonaca gave up its manual inspection methods in favor of a digital approach to save time- and money. A rounded view of fibers The use of fibers for aerospace gyroscope applications- notably inertial navigation and platform stabilization- is common now, but it was not always so. Piston engine propulsion SAE 100 Future look: As the propulsion industry looks to the future, the barriers remain challenging, the drivers more critical, but the innovations more promising. What's downstream in turbine technology SAE 100 Future look: Gas turbine machines-aviations, industrial, and vehicular- are versatile and cost-effective machines used for the provision of electricity, mechanical load power, and propulsion.

Collaboration off shelf Major software suppliers are using their experiences supporting aerospace customers to develop solutions that make suppliers more efficient. The future of wire health While recent technological advances can provide increased safety through faster suppression of shorts and arcing type conditions, it can also add significantly to ongoing maintenance costs. Tomorrow's reality in defense electronics SAE 100 Future look: From space-based satellite communications systems to rifles equipped with laser and thermal imaging sights, electronics has intergrated itself as a core ingredient of contemporary war-fare.

Dassault-business aviation pioneer More than four decades of design and engineering evolution have seen the French business jet producer create a wide range of twin-and tri-jet Falcons, from the 20 to the latest 7X. Maintaining reliability Regional airlines and business jet operators care about fuel efficiency, just not as much as engine reliability. Introducing Greg Henderson, SAE President for 2006 The Lockheed Martin executive steps up to take SAE into its next 100 years.

Full throttle for engine solutions Powering aircraft from Mach 2 fighters to tiny hovering UAVs, military engine technology is now operating on a very broad front. Design and production flexibility together with reduced in-service costs are priorities. To the breaking point Test engineers use new rigs and data-acquisition equipment on the latest generation of pneumatics, engines, and airframes. PCs move into the cockpit Pilot training is getting a bit less expensive with the introduction of more portable flight simulations.

Designing reliable boards The makers of electronic hardware are boosting reliability by reducing the number of components that can fail while improving ruggedization for those circuit boards. Better seen, not heard Reducing noise profiles is a multi-targeted task for engine OEMs, airframers, airport authorities, and regulatory agencies. Farnborough 2006 "Sustainable Aviation" will be a key subject as representatives of the global aerospace industry meet at the Farnborough International Airshow.

A material world The past two decades have seen tremendous strides in the application of composites within aerospace engineering. Plain talk from plane engineers Two companies with different backgrounds focus on different technologies in bringing to market new very light jets.

Composite simulation helps fill gaps There is no turning back from using carbon-fiber reinforced plastics and other composite materials for aerospace parts. Simulation providers are finding new opportunities to help reduce cost and improve efficiencies in designing and making aerospace parts made of composites. Shifting gears smoothly Ric Kleine, a 30-year veteran of Cummins Inc. and former SAE Commercial Vehicle VP, seeks continuity over change as he moves into SAE's driver's seat.

Materials become design, design becoems function Once things you could hold in your hand, materials have become more design ideas than entities, and the designs themselves are transforming into operational activity. The next steps in flight A look at sero engine and assembly developments as commercial airframe and engine manufacturers begin the biggest battle of all-for next-generation short-haul jet aircraft sales. NextGen Today and tomorrow The FAA has reached a major milestone on the Next Generation Air Transportation System initiative to modernize America's National Airspace System. Stacking the material deck for the 787 Combinations such as composites and titanium being used in future aircraft programs can be very challenging when drilling holes during manufacturing and assembly operations.

Material matters While new airplane designs now entering service will use more carbon-fiber composites than ever, it is no time to count out aluminum, as promising new versions of alloys such as aluminum-lithium gain ground.

New blades turning Industry is in the midst of new initiatives to develop lighter, stronger aero engine fan blades. ATM revolution-on the way at last A look at one of the biggest issues facing the air transport sector: integrating air traffic management policies and solutions. A new positioning system for aircraft structural assembly The EcoPositioner is a modular and reconfigurable positioning technology that takes into consideration the positioning task as well as operational conditions and environmental influences.

Joining metal/composite structures The interference-fit bolted joining of hybrid metal/composite can greatly improve the fatigue life of such joints, according to Chinese researchers.

Adaptive trimming of composite parts Some of the techniques used in the Adaptive Manufacturing System are normal aerospace processes. The unique and enabling process is the scanning and adaptive trimming.