GKN delivers thermoplastic parts for V-280 Valor
GKN Aerospace has delivered thermoplastic parts to Bell Helicopter for integration into the V-280 Valor tiltrotor.
The parts include a pair of thermoplastic composite, induction-welded ruddervators - the control surfaces for an aircraft with a V-tail configuration – and two compression-moulded access panels manufactured from re-used thermoplastic waste material.
As a partner on Bell’s Team Valor for the US Army programme, GKN Aerospace has designed and manufactured the complete thermoset composite V-Tail for the Bell V-280, which will make it one of the first military aircraft to fly with thermoplastic components.
The ruddervators and access panels are technology demonstrator examples, and flight testing on the aircraft is planned for later in 2019.
‘We are proud to be part of Team Valor and to be selected for the design of the V-tail,’ John Pritchard, CEO of GKN Aerospace Aerostructures & Systems Europe & Asia, said. ‘It is very exciting that our cutting-edge thermoplastic technology will be flight tested for the first time on the state-of-the-art V-280 Valor.’
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