Aircraft
Military Materials, Mods Could Cut Airliner Fuel Burn
Alpine Advanced Materials is pressing the case for its HX5 composite, while sister company Metro Aerospace is looking to cut drag with its Microvane mod.
Metro Aerospace's Microvanes modifications reduce drag by generating swirl in the opposite direction to the vortices forming around a fuselage. [Photo: Metro Aerospace]
Metro Aerospace's Microvanes modifications reduce drag by generating swirl in the opposite direction to the vortices forming around a fuselage. [Photo: Metro Aerospace]

A pair of Texas-based sister companies are offering a combination of solutions to reduce the fuel consumption of airliners. Between them, they say they are addressing two of the three key carbon reduction strategies proposed by ICAO to lower air transport’s environmental footprint, namely weight reduction and improved aerodynamics (the third being improved engines).

Alpine Advanced Materials says it is seeing growing demand for its HX5 thermoplastic nanocomposite technology, which is replacing aluminum for multiple cabin interior fittings. Meanwhile, its sibling, Metro Aerospace, seeks to expand applications for its Microvane drag-reducing modifications.