TenCate Advanced Composites has begun production of compression molded composite parts for the Bell 525 Relentless helicopter program. According to the company, there are approximately a dozen parts per aircraft in applications ranging from access doors to engine compartment walls.
TenCate says that the compression molded composite allow fabrication of complex parts in one efficient molding cycle.
‘This is a good example of how an industry leader like Bell Helicopter utilizes compression molded parts to achieve cost savings on military programs, and developed an expertise which was able to cross over into civil programs,’ said Matt Cano, director of sales at TenCate Advanced Composites. The Bell 525 Relentless represents the world’s first fly by wire commercial helicopter and features a touchscreen glass cockpit. This helicopter is designed to accommodate 16 passengers and two crew members and can be configured for a variety of mission needs.
This story is reprinted from material from TenCate, with editorial changes made by Materials Today. The views expressed in this article do not necessarily represent those of Elsevier.
