Composites take flight

Aerospace looks at newer composites and new applications in the race to reduce weight and maintenance costs.

“Composite usage has grown exponentially in aerospace in just the last three or four years,” said Stephen Nolan, Vice President and General Manager for the Advanced Systems division of Alliant Techsystems (ATK), the aerospace structures supplier. Why such interest?

For the military-which pioneered composite aircraft parts-it means both weight savings and stealth. Many modern combat aircraft, including the F-22 and F-35, make extensive use of composites, while new ones such as the All Composite Cargo Aircraft are expanding the scope of composite applications. As Nolan sees it, more composites will follow processes that make structures faster, cheaper, and more repeatable. ATK has helped advance composite use since it was first used on rocket motor casings in the 1950s. For example, it pioneered fiber placement techniques in the 1980s that were quickly adopted within the industry.