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Systematically silencing Industry trends demonstrate aerospace companies such as Lord are evolving from supplying just components to entire systems. Resolving conflicts for the F/A-22 cockpit canopy Diverse requirements made design and production of the fighter's cockpit canopy a challenging systems integration enterprise for Lockheed Martin. No man in the machine Unmanned aerial vehicles have proven their worth in recent real-time confrontations, but there is still a need for continued technological growth toward their maturity.

Simulation from the inside Software applications are now being developed to make air travel safer and more comfortable for the people in the cabin. American attack UAVs-Part 1 The first 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. Certifying airworthiness MIL-HDBK-5 is an especially valuable tool for the Federal Aviation Administration and is essential to the health of the entire aviation manufacturing industry. Boeing takes leap forward with composites The use of composites is not new to the aerospace industry, but with its 7E7 airplane, Boeing plans to stretch the material technology to new limits.

Safeguarding aircraft systems How several systems suppliers, airframers, and researchers have approached the need for increased system safeguards and protection against lightning strikes. One last look back A review of the technology news, discussions, and announcements from the first Aerospace Congress & Exhibition held September 10-13 in Seattle, WA. Powering unmanned aircraft Pratt & Whitney Canada is developing and testing a commercial turbofan engine derivative for high-altitude unmanned air vehicle applications. 737-800 winglet integration A joint venture between Boeing and Aviation Partners Inc. is involved in developing a performance improvement for in-service aircraft.

Focusing on the process Lean practices aim at changing the way managers, engineers, and assembly workers view their jobs. This first installment in a two-part series on lean manufacturing focuses on the principles that make up this production philosophy. Smoothing the path to laminar flow control Researchers at Cranfield College of Aeronautics are studying laminar flow control technology with the particular target of enhancing Airbus aircraft technology for the 21st century. Maintaining electrical protection on the 777 A scheduled maintenance program is essential for aircraft protection against high-intensity radiated fields and lightning.

Advancing the art of manufacturing Use of new manufacturing tools and techniques are allowing aircraft makers to deliver their products faster. A materialistic industry Deciding which material is best suited to construct a part or plane is one of the most complex issues an aerospace engineer faces. Speeding up engine manufacture Fiber optics play a big role in percussion drilling tiny holes.

The future of aircraft manufacturing Engineers from Vought Aircraft offer insight into the challenges, trends, and techniques that aerospace manufacturers will have to consider for maintaining a viable manufacturing environment. High-speed spindles for aircraft manufacturing Aerospace companies such as Boeing and AHF-Ducommun have employed various high-speed spindles from Precise to improve machining accuracy and finish of aerospace components. Making advanced composites Lockheed Martin Space Systems explores several methods to improve quality and reduce costs. Turbine blade machining To ensure more efficient grinding of its turbine blades, Rolls-Royce installed Midwest Engineered Products' CentraSep centrifuge for automatic filtering of cutting oil.

Wanted: aerospace engineers There are many different viewpoints on the state of engineering employment in the aerospace industry. "Aerospace Engineering" editors spoke with airframers, suppliers, and academics to get their perspectives on recruiting and retaining engineering talent. Understanding the shape-variable fowler flap DaimlerChrysler Aerospace and the German Aerospace Center have begun studying the concept of a shape-variable fowler flap for an Airbus transport aircraft such as the A340. Thin-film coatings technology NIST's Materials Science and Engineering Laboratory continues its research to gain better understanding of the mechanical properties of thin-film aerospace applications. Managing knowledge SDRC provides a customized product knowledge management solution for the aerospace industry.

Materials mature The growth of air travel has always been dependent on the development of materials technology for structures and engines. Keeping track of production Aircraft manufacturers are making greater use of RFID and bar code technology, while also using new software that helps them keep production lines running smoothly. Breaking records via fuel management Onboard sensors reported lower-than-expectedfuel-tank readings not far into the around-the-world flight of the GlobalFlyer, jeopardizing the entire mission.

Teaming up for quality Suppliers, customers, and industry groups all work together in drive to reduce problems. Next-gen nav/comm Advanced satellite capabilities revolutionize navigation, comminications, and surveillance. Composites come clean New scienceand processes are applied to next-generation materials.

From part to plane: the fastest machine wins Next-gen machining centers and controllers brings new precision and capabilities to both metal and composite manufacturing. Files moved around the world As aircraft manufacturers distribute more jobs to contractors, streamlining the transfer of information has become an important part of both design and manufacturing. Top technologies of 2008 A look back at some of the most significant technological innovations during the past year. VLJ power Some engine programs for very light jets are full swing while certification awaits others.

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.

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.

Noise and vibrations control A variety of active and passive methods can be used to reduce cabin noise and fuselage vibration. Bringing efficiency to flight testing To meet itsgoal of one new aircraft activity each year, Bombardier's Flight Test Center has sought to reduce aircraft development cycle time by focusing on test planning, safety, and configuration control. Propulsion flight testing Originally conceived for just the GE90 aircraft engine program, GE Aircraft Engines' Boeing 747 flying test bed has evolved into the company's primary commercial engine test aircraft. Top technologies for 2000 Each month, "Aerospace Engineering" publishes the latest technologies. The "Aerospace Engineering" editors have reviewed thousands of reader responses during the past year and have chosen the "best of the best" along with runners-up.

A new role for flight testing Airbus Industries has expanded its flight-testing activities to support the company's Maturity Program and achieve 98.5% operational reliability for aircraft entering service. Take your seats, please Business aircrafts seat designers from B/E Aerospace continues to search for a balance between greater functionality, low cost, light weight, and increased comfort and safety. Aerospace ergonomics Eclipse engineers employ 3-D digital human modeling techniques to ensure an ergonomically efficient cockpit for the Eclipse 500 jet. Real-time aero model identification National Research Council Canada describes its long-term program to speed up data analysis during aircraft flight testing. Top technologies for 2001 Every month, "Aerospace Engineering" publishes the latest technologies. The "Aerospace Engineering" editors have reviewed thousands of reader responses submitted during the past year and, based on your feedback, have chosen the top technologies.

Simulation solves C5 cargo door problem Dynamic analysis software allows engineers to solve fatigue-related problems without prototypes. UAV development Although unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) have been employed successfully by the U.S. military to date, many development and operational challenges remain for these to become viable alternatives for manned aircraft. Aircraft engine testing: the test tig developer Engineers at Belcan's Advanced Engineering & Technology Division share their insights and experiences on the development of aircraft gas turbine test rigs and stands. This is the first installment of a three-part series on aircraft engine testing. Looking back at factory automation The ability to improve quality while substantially reducing the cost of production and span times is becoming a necessity to complete in today's aerospace industry.

Advanced materials for manufacturability The big three- aluminum, titanium, and composites- duke it out in the sky. Automation makes big advances Aircraft manufacturers continue to adopt new technologies that improve efficiency, speed up production, and reduce worker injuries. Electric braking debuts in military and commercial applications SAE 100 Future look: Goodrich led the development of electromechanical aircraft braking with a highly focused team of experts from three divisions within the company, each working in their own fields of expertise: braking performance, electronic controls, and electromechanical acutators (EAs). Looking into the future with NDT SAE 100 Future look: The need for systemized inspection inthe aircraft industry did not arise until the dramatic increase in air travel that took place in the late 1940s. Electronic warfare SAE 100 Future look: Today's combat aircraft commonly use electronic warfare (EW) receivers and jammers for self protection.

Quality through closed-loop manufacturing Pratt & Whitney has employed automated part probing as part of its manufacturing process to provide final inspection, data collection and analysis, and process adjustment. A virtual fighter The Boeing Co. and Lockheed Martin Corp. use SGI's Origin 2000 servers and Silicon Graphics Onyx2 visual supercomputers to design their respective Joint Strike Fighter (JSF) demonstrators virtually. Modular aerospace controls Honeywell investigates a commercial off-the-shelf approach to the automated generation of safety-critical software for distributed control systems. Automated fuselage mating Brotje-Automation GmbH has developed an automated alignment facility designed to accurately position and align major aircraft fuselage sections.

Sound sound-research techniques Higher bypass ratios, chevrons, shape memory alloys, and improved aerodynamics are some of the advancing technologies that will help quiet aircraft, and thus help the environment. Display technology perks up HUD, software make big strides in cockpit appearance and flight safety. Going green The global aerospace industry gears up for big changes in fuel burn, emissions, and noise.

Landing gear testing Transforming itself from component supplier to integrated systems supplier, a landing gear manufacturer faces new testing challenges. Improving fuselage crashworthiness An innovative composite concept for light aircraft has been developed to provide better passenger protection.