Goodrich selects U.S. Air Force for F-35 landing gear advanced coatings

Goodrich Corporation (NYSE: GR) has selected the U.S. Air Force's Ogden Air Logistics Center (OO-ALC) at Hill Air Force Base, Utah, to provide specialty coatings on landing gear for the F-35 Lightning II fighter aircraft. Under the agreement, the OO-ALC will apply high velocity oxygenated fuel (HVOF) thermal spray coating on Goodrich landing gear components produced for the F-35. The initial agreement runs through May 2009, and covers requirements for five landing gear shipsets of the carrier variant F-35.

HVOF coating technology is increasingly being used in demanding aerospace applications such as landing gear because it provides a superior performing, environmentally responsible alternative to hard chrome plating. Goodrich, along with the F-35 integrated product team, worked closely with OO-ALC on technical, quality and program elements to bring the depot's HVOF process online in a production environment.

According to Mike Brand, president, Goodrich Landing Gear, "In today's market, commercial and military platforms compete for limited capacity on critical process technologies. By working with the Air Force, Goodrich is able to provide our customer a high quality, environmentally-friendly product at a price and production rate that is competitive with the commercial marketplace. In addition, we have a unique opportunity to engage our customer early in the F-35 program's life cycle; they can gain experience with the landing gear design and technology well in advance of traditional depot maintenance and overhaul activities as the product is fielded."

OO-ALC is the U.S. Air Force's landing gear center of excellence. Goodrich and OO-ALC have had a partnership agreement since 2001. Other work under the partnership agreement includes the repair and overhaul of landing gear for the C-17 Globemaster transport aircraft.

Goodrich provides landing gear for all variants of the F-35 Lightning II - CTOL (conventional takeoff and landing), CV (carrier variant) and STOVL (short takeoff/vertical landing). Other Goodrich content on the F-35 includes the air data system, weapons bay door systems, engine and fuel quantity sensors, actuation systems and unique STOVL engine and airframe components. Goodrich content on the F-35 is expected to be valued at more than $3 million per aircraft. Production takes place at company facilities in Australia, Canada, the UK and the U.S.