| October 28, 2009 |
Looking into the future of flight displays
New developments in lighting and electronics are changing the way aircrews operate their aircraft.
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| October 14, 2009 |
Casting a wider net
For the 2009 version of the AeroTech Congress and Exhibition, host company Boeing looks to reach all corners of the aerospace industry.
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| September 30, 2009 |
Next-generation military propulsion
Design concepts for future strike aircraft, transport, and UAVs.
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| September 16, 2009 |
A smarter future
Smart materials have been around a long time; some have made it to market, but the real promise is still to come.
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| September 2, 2009 |
Fuels for the future
Cleaner and more environmentally friendly sources of aviation fuel will be needed if the impact of air travel is to remain acceptable as the climate changes.
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| August 19, 2009 |
Zonal hydraulics
Electric systems will facilitate dispersal of hydraulic systems throughout the airframe.
Technology Update
Boeing and team deliver on Poseidon
Product Showcase
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| August 5, 2009 |
The edge on cutting aerospace composites
With the increasing use of high-performance composites, such as carbon fiber-reinforced plastics in aerospace in recent years, machinists are continuing to devise the best way of cutting them.
Technology Update
Landing helicopters safely despite brownout
Product Showcase
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| June 2009 |
Composite designs benefit from blending
When design teams mesh with manufacturing, the result is better aircraft.
On the air with transformational broadcasts
Next-generation communications and navigation solutions facilitate green approaches and new flight efficiencies for airlines.
Automation in composite manufacturing
Technological developments are set to change the way aircraft are made.
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| May 2009 |
An eye for detail
Manufacturers hone next-generation designs with advanced measurement and inspection tools.
Emissions progress
New European research and development efforts aim to achieve step changes in engine emissions performance.
Seeing virtually everything
Simulating larger systems helps engineers understand more interactions.
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| April 2009 |
Improving power quality
Avionics power supplies are being redesigned to reduce harmonic distortion and work with wild frequencies.
Thinking smart
As aerospace manufacturers and suppliers continually look for new ways to improve passenger safety and comfort, an increasing emphasis is being placed on the role of advanced, ‘smart’ interiors.
Getting it together
The manufacture and assembly of today’s aircraft must be in line with market needs and emerging technologies in a challenging business environment.
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| March 2009 |
Toward greener skies
Engine designers harness new technologies to embrace the eco-challenge.
Going with the flow
Advanced balances, pressure-sensitive paint, and wind-tunnel testing streamline aircraft aerodynamics.
Orbital drilling goes mainstream for the Dreamliner
Boeing and Novator worked together to overcome the obstacles of drilling holes into new material combinations being used in next-gen aircraft.
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| January/February 2009 |
Going direct in manufacturing
Prototyping transitions from one-off components to flight-ready hardware.
Traveling light, traveling easy
Airplane manufacturers have always tried to avoid unnecessary weight—and today's materials and design tactics combine for stronger structures with less weight.
Making flying safer
Technology is applied to new avionics and ground-based systems to make air operations, military as well as civil, far safer than ever before.
Innovative Thinking 101
West Virginia University professor Dr. James E. Smith issues a call for innovation as one of the central themes of his term as SAE's 2009 President.
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| November/December 2008 |
From part to plane: the fastest machine wins
Next-gen machining centers and controllers bring new precision and capabilities to both metal and composite manufacturing.
Files moved around the world
As aircraft manufacturers distribute more jobs to contractors, streamlining the transfer of information has become an important part of both design and manufacturing.
Top technologies of 2008
A look back at some of the most significant technological innovations during the past year.
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| October 2008 |
Teaming up for quality
Suppliers, customers, and industry groups all work together in drive to reduce problems.
Next-gen nav/comm
Advanced satellite capabilities revolutionize navigation, communications, and surveillance.
Composites come clean
New science and processes are applied to next-generation materials.
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| September 2008 |
The burn factor
New combustor technologies keep engine temperatures down to reduce emissions.
The transparent supply chain
The U.S. military and contractors work together to make parts available when parts are needed.
An explosion of nondestructive testing
Trends in the aerospace industry, such as greater use of composites, increase the need for tests and simulations.
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| August 2008 |
Robot reliance
There is plenty of room for growth in the use of robots among aerospace companies.
The energy-optimized aircraft
Aerospace sings the body electric with the integration of stand-alone electric subsystems.
Flying into cleaner skies
Engine efficiency saves money, trims pollutants.
A fascination with fasteners
Lack of manufacturing capacity is just one reason for a shortage of aerospace fasteners.
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| July 2008 |
Going green to stay in the black
Cutting energy usage, reducing chemical waste can help companies save cash.
Saving space
Engineers take a modern look at proven rocket technologies for the Constellation program.
'Center' of attention
An abundance of test programs on the horizon leads Boeing to create a central command center to organize all test activities.
Farnborough International 2008
A look at prospects and trends for this year's largest global aerospace trade show.
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| June 2008 |
From concept in mind to product in hand
Compatibility between tools for design and manufacturing engineers is improving, though it's still fraught with potential pitfalls.
Cockpits on display
Larger (and eventually bendable) flight displays use commercial technology for both new production and retrofit applications.
Interior interests
Makers of business aircraft take different approaches to designing interiors.
Aerospace proves its metal
Aluminum lithium, magnesium alloys, titanium metal matrix composites, and advanced coatings are all part of the future of flying.
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| May 2008 |
Clean, quiet commercial propulsion
Engine manufacturers design future engines to meet noise, pollution, and fuel economy needs.
Robots take over
Dramatic changes in areas as diverse as semiconductor costs, software tools, and the trend toward regional aircraft are creating opportunities for airplane manufacturers to automate their factories.
Rapid prototyping to rapid manufacturing
Durable, temperature-resistant powders and materials enable the manufacture of complex components.
The research race
Aerospace R&D funding in the U.S. is on the upswing, but new priorities create challenges for universities.
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| April 2008 |
Carbon fiber gets bigger footprint
Manufacturers strive for the Holy Grail of composites manufacturing: consistency and repeatability.
Safety on the floor
Once add-ons that brought almost as many problems as benefits, safety techniques are now being designed into equipment before start-up.
Taking measure of the machine
New requirements and technologies advance the art of test and sensing.
Looking, listening, recording, analyzing
HUMS is established as an integral part of aviation’s safety network, but more standardization is needed to broaden its effectiveness.
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| March 2008 |
Making an impact in fastening
Engineers at Electroimpact help the company get a leg up on the competition in automated fastening.
Narrowing in on military requirements
UAVs/UCAVs are increasingly important, with the accent on integration—and wider engine choice.
Machining and turning centers take center stage
Makers of CNC machining equipment are incorporating more and better functionality into their products so users cope better with processing challenges such as those posed by tough new grades of aerospace materials.
Open (and often) communication
As aircraft companies battle for market share, uniting design and manufacturing teams remains a key challenge.
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| January/February 2008 |
Casting a vote for alloys
Bringing lighter weight, improved performance, and enhanced repairability to airframes and engines.
A sense of the future for UAVs
Providing the unblinking eye for intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance.
Light material brings heavy challenges
Shift from aluminum to composites requires major changes in equipment, software.
Ryan's 'Research' put to good use
The Southwest Research Institute engineer assumes SAE President duties for 2008.
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| November/December 2007 |
Cockpit transformation: to the looking glass
The changeover to glass cockpits continues to evolve, as system developers devise strategies to give pilots lots of information in easy-to-understand formats.
Older-older vs. newer-older: room for both
Engine upgrades are expected to provide sufficient return on investment within a reasonable period of time.
Top Technologies of the year
A look back at some of the most significant technological innovations during the past year.
Tech focus
Professionals with accomplishment-filled careers offered their insights to engineers and other professionals at September’s SAE AeroTech conference in Los Angeles.
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| October 2007 |
Let's get digital
Aviation and defense companies are turning to software tools as a way to create systems and components faster, cheaper, and more efficiently than ever before.
Global collaboration is in the air
From national to international to global, aerospace programs have become ever more geographically interlinked. Whether military or civil, the need for transworld technology collaboration and partnership is rising to new heights.
Tech focus
This month’s focus is on equipment,facilities, and processes related to ground-based testing.
Creating, customizing aircraft interiors
Aircraft designers who have made the transition to digital design tools are expanding their use as the tools extendtheir capabilities.
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| September 2007 |
Sound sound-research techniques
Higher bypass ratios, chevrons, shape memory alloys, and improved aerodynamics are some of the advancing technologies that will help quiet aircraft, and thus help the environment.
Display technology perks up
HUD, software make big strides in cockpit appearance and flight safety.
What’s New at AeroTech
A preview of what some of the exhibiting companies at the SAE 2007 AeroTech Congress & Exhibition plan to display or introduce at this year’s event.
Tech focus
This month’s focus previews three of the many papers that will be presented at the SAE AeroTech Congress & Exhibition September 17-20 in Los Angeles.
Going green
The global aerospace industry gears upfor big changes in fuel burn, emissions,and noise.
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| August 2007 |
Standards take flight
Commercial aerospace specifications continue to gain ground as aircraft get more electric.
AeroTech: A 'community of practice'
'Something for everybody' is what this SAE conference, hosted by Northrop Grumman, offers aerospace industry engineers and executives.
Making flight tests more productive
Simulation, testing reduce the size and number of in-flight problems.
Tech focus
This month’s focus is on unmanned aerial vehicles.
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| July 2007 |
The human factor in maintaining safety
The need for safety systems and processes is crucial for every aspect of aerospace, with human experience and expertise melding with increasing computer power to pinpoint potential problems and increase efficiency.
Mitsui at the cutting edge of precision machining
The Japanese company is riding a wave of new-aircraft programs to grow its business at the upper and lower ends of the market.
Tech focus
This month’s focus provides some insights and updates on various airplane makers’ flight testing programs.
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| June 2007 |
Rapid growth for prototype systems
Building model airplanes is serious business in the aerospace industry.
Automating space launches
The final frontier is getting to be a busier place these days as more and more vehicles soar beyond the Earth’s atmosphere.
Paris Air Show 2007
The world’s premier aerospace event showcases the latest in aerospace technology and puts emphasis on career opportunities.
Tech focus
This month’s focus is on some of the research being done to improve the performance of batteries for aerospace applications.
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| May 2007 |
A material world
The past two decades have seen tremendous strides in the application of composites within aerospace engineering.
Plain talk from plane engineers
Two companies with different backgrounds focus on different technologies in bringing to market new very light jets.
Tech focus
This month’s focus is on select SAE standards activities and the ramifications of those activities on industry.
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| April 2007 |
Supporting next-gen propulsion
The need for advanced computational and communication systems on board military aircraft make fuel cells an attractive propulsion alternative, and ample access to hydrogen a necessity.
Aerospace industry seeks material returns
Better use of materials data can pay off for aerospace designers.
Transatlantic testing program for the F-35
Europe gets its most comprehensive-ever military airframe test facility.
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| March 2007 |
Management promotes sharing
The extensive use of CAD tools in aerospace design brings many benefits, but also a number of challenges.
Getting robots to multi-task
The demand to fulfill continually increasing customer requirements forces suppliers to offer state-of-the-art system manufacturing solutions.
Tech focus
This month’s focus is on new developments in the areas of communications and data collection/manipulation.
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| January/February 2007 |
UAV advances soar as market takes off
Developers strive to slash weight but gain the ability to gather and move more data.
On-wing designs
Engine maturation programs ensure reliability for commercial powerplants.
Tech focus
This month’s focus is on some recent activity in the development, production, and sale of light business jets.
Top products of 2006
Aerospace Engineering editors highlight some of the top offerings from the industry’s component and system suppliers.
Promoting from within
After serving a three-year term as Vice President-Automotive, Rich Schaum, Chrysler’s former product development chief, becomes the new face of SAE International.
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