Thermoplastic structures for lightweight aircraft

GKN Aerospace has formed a multi-year agreement to supply Joby Aviation thermoplastic flight control surfaces for its electric vertical take-off and landing (eVTOL) aircraft.

According to GKN. the surfaces will be a lightweight thermoplastic structure assembly, made using an out-of-autoclave production method. Development and initial production work will be carried out at the company’s Hoogeveen, Netherlands and Chihuahua, Mexico facilities.

"Joby's leading position in the Advanced Air Mobility (AAM) sector complements GKN Aerospace's mission and together we are forging a path towards a more sustainable and efficient future for aviation,” said John Pritchard, president at GKN Aerospace.