Archived Aerospace Sector News - 2007
Cirrus Gets Serious with ACG Prepregs - November 2007
Advanced Composites Group (ACG) is renowned for its expertise and achievements in the development and application of technologically advanced composite materials. One significant milestone since the Group's inception back in the 1970s occurred in 1986 when it shifted its attention to resin formulations for tooling applications. The Group went on to develop its first generation of versatile LTM® tooling prepregs, which are now used in virtually every market sector across the globe. The proliferation of its LMT prepregs is illustrated by a catalogue of successes since that time. This notable journey into tooling prepregs has influenced the course of ACG's history and its current business strategy.
It all started with ACG's LTM10 series prepregs, which set the standard upon which further advancements have been made. The Group then developed its LTM200 series prepregs, an event which was closely followed by the release of its LTM300 series prepregs. As one might expect, product evolution has delivered a sequence of significant benefits to the toolmaker and has raised the Group's profile within the composites industry.
The past twenty years have seen ACG's LTM prepregs applied in a variety of guises to generate tooling that has satisfied the desires of all market sectors, including aerospace, where a number of LTM prepregs have received industry qualification.
ACG recently received a gratifying endorsement for its LTM tooling materials from Mr. Steven Ell, Manufacturing Engineering Manager of the Minnesota-based Cirrus Design Corporation. Founded in 1984, Cirrus designs and builds affordable airplanes that deliver superior control, comfort, and unprecedented levels of safety.
Mr. Ell presents several flattering accounts of the benefits of ACG's LTM tooling products, stating that, "Our fuselage tools are made from ACG's LTM®12 prepreg and are autoclave initial cured. We have a total of ten fuselage tools, five left hand tools and five right hand. We have had to do only one leak repair on these tools, and that's after more than 350 parts have been released. The surface quality is still good and we've only had to make minor surface repairs to high detail areas. This is most likely due to the complexities in surface preparation of these areas. We also have some autoclave cured LTM®12 cabin door tools that have been subjected to over 500 releases."
Furthermore, Mr. Ell says, "We have a number of tools made using ACG's LTM®318U system that have experienced 100 releases and are still looking good." Mr. Ell concludes by saying, "Your materials remain my material of choice for producing composite tools. We are using the new wing skin and main spar tools for the SR22-G3 wing. We have a total of seventeen tools in production on these parts, and we are also in the process of building wing skin and main spar tools for the Cirrus Jet. I believe that our total ACG tool count is over ninety - in various shapes and sizes."
The SR22-G3 is the product of continuous evolution to refine the aircraft structure and systems, and reduce unnecessary weight using the best new materials and engineering methods available. Without adding to the aircraft's weight, Cirrus has increased: new equipment options, payload, safety features, and aircraft usefulness.
For further details contact ACG Sales Department.
Primco Acquisition - November 2007
ACG Integrates Primco's Phenolic Resin Based Prepregs - Presenting a Complementary Range of Materials for Aerospace Interiors and Exteriors.
The Advanced Composites Group (ACG), part of the Composites Division of Umeco plc, recently strengthened its position in the aircraft interiors business with the acquisition of Primco, a leading formulator and supplier of phenolic prepreg systems used in the aerospace, defence, medical, sporting and general industrial sectors.
The combined operation offers outstanding synergisms; Primco augments the Group's existing hot-melt capabilities through state-of-the-art solvent towers that meet stringent environmental regulations. ACG manufactures a range of cost effective prepreg products, including epoxy, phenolic, cyanate ester, Bismaleimide (BMI) and thermoplastic resin systems in all formats and with all types of fibre reinforcement.
ACG Primco's aircraft interior phenolic systems, qualified to Airbus specifications, exhibit superior surface finish, thereby reducing post-mould finishing while also contributing to reductions in both cost and weight.
ACG also offers a range of self-extinguishing epoxy prepreg systems that are used in demanding applications such as flooring and seating.
ACG is forging ahead in the development of new aerospace systems for both structural and interior applications. The Group's proven research potential was enhanced in 2006 with the opening of a modern Technology Centre, staffed by approximately 60 people.
Customers can expect to benefit from the high level service for which ACG and Primco are renowned. From its prepreg manufacturing facilities in the UK and the USA, the Group services the market by delivering bespoke products to short lead times. This is backed by a network of sales agencies around the world.
The acquisition of George Cole Technologies Limited, which traded as Primco, was made by Umeco plc through ACG. Established for over 40 years, Primco's materials, manufacturing technologies and applications are highly complementary to those of ACG, and will further enlarge the Group's existing range of composite materials technologies and aerospace qualifications.
Clive Snowdon, Chief Executive of Umeco plc, commented: "The Primco acquisition further illustrates the progress Umeco has achieved in delivering complementary growth to the Group both in the UK and overseas. It will enable us to offer our existing customers a wider range of material technologies, whilst allowing ACG to further consolidate its market leading position, in a continuously evolving composite arena. "Primco offers good long term value-creating growth and we look forward to realising operating synergies as we integrate it into our existing business."
For further details contact ACG Sales Department.
MTM46 Selected for Kit Planes and Certified Aircraft - September 2007
Epic Aircraft, located in Bend, Oregon, USA, has selected ACG's MTM®46 out-of-autoclave prepregs as one of its carbon fiber suppliers for its range of kit planes and its planned certified aircraft.
The current range of kit planes includes: the Epic LT, a six seat turboprop; the Escape, a 5-seat, single-engine turboprop; and the Victory 'very light jet' (VLJ), which made its first appearance at the Experimental Aircraft Association's annual Oshkosh show in July.
Epic is also planning to launch the Dynasty, a certified version of the Epic LT, and also the Elite VLJ. The qualification of ACG's MTM®46 will be a key part of this process.
By including MTM®46 and another material in the initial qualification, the requirements can be defined to accommodate both materials. This negates the requirement to qualifying a second material at a later date, and having to deal with the inevitable problems of the follow on material not matching some of the properties of the one previously qualified.
ACG considers this to be an exciting opportunity, with materials being supplied immediately for the kit aircraft, and continuing during the two-year qualification period for the certified aircraft.
The product forms will include 193gsm 12K plain weave carbon fabric, unidirectional carbon fiber and 7781 style glass fabric.
Detailed information about Virgin Galactic can be found at www.epicaircraft.com
For further details contact ACG Sales Department.
New Generation of Out of Autoclave Systems in Commercial Space Flight - April 2007
Burt Rutan’s Scaled Composites won the 2004 Ansari X prize by becoming the first private company to put a manned craft into space twice within a two-week period.
The SpaceShipOne vehicle and the White Knight carrier plane were both built from the Advanced Composites Group’s LTM®45EL prepregs at the Scaled Composites’ Mojave, California facility. Now, with the launch of Sir Richard Branson’s Virgin Group’s new commercial spaceline, Virgin Galactic, commercial spaceflight will take a further step by offering the first commercial sub-orbital passenger space service. Virgin Galactic will operate five spaceship systems manufactured by The Spaceship Company, a joint Venture between Sir Richard Branson’s Virgin Group and Burt Rutan’s Scaled Composites, with options for more to follow.
The SpaceShipTwo vehicle and the White Knight 2 carrier plane are to be built from a new generation of out-of-autoclave prepregs developed by ACG. The MTM®45-1 prepreg resin system selected for the new vehicles represents an advance over the older LTM® systems in terms of performance and toughness. In addition, the MTM45-1 system is supported by extensive property databases. ACG is proud to be a part of what promises to be an exciting new chapter in man’s exploration of space.
About Virgin Galactic:
As the world's first commercial spaceline, Virgin Galactic, part of the Virgin Group that was conceived by Sir Richard Branson in 1970, will be investing to set up a world-class commercial flight operation and build the ground infrastructure required to create the best possible sub orbital spaceflight experience for its passengers.
Detailed information about Virgin Galactic can be found at www.virgingalactic.com
About Scaled Composites:
Scaled Composites was founded in 1982 and immediately became the world's most prolific developer of new research aircraft types.
Detailed information about Scaled Composites can be found at www.scaled.com.
ACG was also involved in SpaceShipOne. Click here to read more.
Image courtesy of Scaled Composites and Virgin Galactic.
For further details contact ACG Sales Department.
MTM®46 Prepregs Complete Qualification Testing - March 2007
Columbia Aircraft Manufacturing Corporation of Bend, Oregon, USA (formerly Lancair) has completed the qualification testing of three product forms based upon Advanced Composites Group’s MTM®46 prepreg resin system.
The materials, which included woven glass fabric, woven carbon fabric and unidirectional carbon prepregs, are used for the structures of the Columbia 350 and 400 aircraft, both of which are certified to FAR23.
ACG’s out-of-autoclave curing prepreg, MTM 46, produces autoclave quality structures with an oven/vacuum bag cure. It has been designed for applications such as general aviation aircraft, where a combination of good wet service temperature with low cost is required. ACG began supplying materials to Columbia in June 2006.
Image courtesy of Columbia Aircraft Manufacturing Company.
Detailed information about Columbia Aircraft Manufacturing Company can be found at www.flycolumbia.com
For further details contact ACG Sales Department.
Zephyr Takes to the Skies with ACG's Composites - January 2007
With weight restrictions being a critical element in the design of Unmanned Air Vehicles (UAVs), QinetiQ’s solar and battery powered Zephyr UAV, which was designed with structural and manufacturing input from B3 Technologies Ltd., utilised ACG’s flexible project approach and received appropriate application specific materials manufactured to their own exacting specifications.
Ultra-light glass skins were combined with the ultra-high modulus carbon fibre to achieve stringent structural and weight requirements. With significant previous experience in the application of carbon composites to the manufacture of UAVs, ACG’s pre-impregnated composite materials (prepregs) were expertly applied by B3 Technologies to the manufacture of structural elements and other components, taking QinetiQ’s lightweight (sub-30kg [66lb]) 12metre wing span Zephyr to a platform record height and duration during its most recent flight trials.
Founded by John Barnard, long recognized as one of the world's most influential racing car designers, with decades of top level motor racing experience, B3 Technologies specialises in creating the finest components for high performance applications and embraces an immense understanding of the capabilities and applications of advanced composites materials.
That’s exactly why QinetiQ turned to B3 Technologies and made them a subcontractor for the development of their Zephyr UAV.
Previous developments saw earlier models of the Zephyr reach a significant height. Advances in the development of the latest variant culminated in a flight time of 18 hours and an altitude of 36,000ft, with a target altitude of 50,000ft well within its reach.
Solar power was used for the ascent, reverting to batteries during dusk, which provided a further 7 hours thereafter, emphatically proving the concept. The combination of solar panels on the upper wing surface and rechargeable batteries is expected to allow Zephyr to be flown for months at a time.
The application of ACG’s carbon composites for the manufacture of single piece ‘D’ section wing spars resulted in lighter and structurally superior components, which contributed to an overall weight reduction.
One of many different parts B3 Technologies produced for the UAV, and perhaps the most impressive, is the propeller. Being extraordinarily light and almost 1 metre long, it comes out of the mould almost perfectly balanced; such is the accuracy of B3
Technologies manufacturing method applied to ACG’s prepreg materials. QinetiQ foresees a wide range of civil, defence and security applications for Zephyr, including surveillance, remote sensing, communications and atmospheric sensing. The aircraft has recently been selected as the platform for the Belgian Mercator HALE UAV system, a remote sensing demonstrator that will be used for mapping.
For further details contact ACG Sales Department.