As it continues to cement its place as an “American” gas turbine engine manufacturer, Rolls-Royce is enlarging its advanced manufacturing capacity in Virginia while tapping automation and evolved machine tooling at its industrial base here in Indianapolis.

We are accustomed to seeing airliner wings change shape on approach, deploying flaps and opening slots to increase lift and reduce landing speed. But for most of the flight, changes are restricted to small movements of individual surfaces as the aircraft maneuvers or reacts to turbulence. Now, in pursuit of higher fuel efficiency, NASA and Boeing are developing technology to smoothly change the wing's shape continuously throughout the flight—even characteristics such as twist that are traditionally built into the wing during design and manufacture.

As the Boeing 787 fleet remains grounded due to safety issues with its lithium-ion batteries, the Joint Strike Fighter program office is not saying whether the issue will prompt any review of the F-35's electrical system, which incorporates a lithium-ion battery that is larger and higher-voltage than the 787's and has a once-per-sortie charge/discharge cycle. Made by a U.S. subsidiary of France's Saft, the JSF battery is the only onboard means of starting the fighter's integrated power pack, which starts the engine.

Simultaneous set of projects probes air pollution and climate change

During the past several years, Europe's airline analysts, company executives and trade group representatives have discussed the so-called new economic model that should shape the industry's future. General consensus is that low-cost carriers, in the long term, will not kill their legacy competitors' attempts to survive, and both entities should eventually co-exist, albeit with market shares that will be less robust than either are used to. However, beyond conferences and lofty statements no concrete action toward this new economic norm has occurred.

Want regional aftermarket support and need MRO personnel for growth

Middle East airfreight market is holding its own

Agency's sidestep of traditional process benefits Boeing