Socata studies liquid-resin composite fuselage process
EADS Socata (Booth No.

EADS Socata (Booth No. 3871) has started exploring a liquid-resin infusion (LRI) process for composite fuselage construction. The French company this month launched a $12.5 million, four-year research and development program, dubbed Fuscomp, which eventually is expected to yield a composite fuselage demonstrator. Its current business aircraft offering, the single-turboprop Socata TBM 850, uses mainly metal construction.

“Fuscomp is a feasibility study for using the infusion process in primary structures,” project manager Pierrick Venisse told NBAA Convention News. The demonstrator airplane will take the shape of a TBM 850 fuselage. The technology, however, will be applicable across Socata’s three market segments: aerostructures in business aircraft (not only the TBM series but also Falcon business jet subassemblies), airliners and helicopters.