Composites gaining favor as construction costs drop
Manufacturers are relying more on composite materials for business aircraft construction thanks to a drop in manufacturing costs and better automation.
Manufacturers are relying more on composite materials for business aircraft construction thanks to a drop in manufacturing costs and better automation. Largely because of improved curing processes, OEMs are gradually eliminating expensive tooling and slashing the overall number of parts needed for a given aerostructure.
An increased reliance on automation is certainly one way to improve composite airframe manufacturing because it ensures repeatability, industry insiders say. “Advances in automation as well as low-temperature curing materials are beginning to bring fabrication to more cost-acceptable levels,” said Frank Simmons, a structures staff scientist for Gulfstream.
