GKN Aerospace has delivered its first fixed trailing edge (FTE) demonstrator for Airbus’ Wing of Tomorrow (WoT) program.
Earlier in 2021 the company produced a single piece composite wing spar for the same program.
The FTE is made with dry composite fibers injected with resin as part of the initial manufacturing process (resin transfer molding, or RTM) rather than traditional, pre-impregnated resin material. According to GKN, this can result in significant weight savings, removing one third of the production steps and reducing energy consumption.
A trailing edge can be found on the rear of aerodynamic surfaces such as an aeroplane wing. Airbus’ £24.4 million program is focused on exploring new approaches to the design and manufacture of aircraft wings, covering materials, manufacturing and assembly techniques.
‘The delivery of the first Wing of Tomorrow program trailing edge into Airbus marks a significant step forward in technology deployment for this type of application,’ said Chris Everett, GKN Aerospace SVP. ‘Advances in composite manufacture and automated assembly techniques are set to demonstrate the ability to both produce such items at high rate whilst delivering significant reductions in energy utilisation and waste.’
This story uses material from GKN, with editorial changes made by Materials Today.
