Airframer

The Airframer Bulletin

Airframe Assemblies

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Every Bulletin story and press release covering Airframe Assemblies, newest first.

1,365 items · page 4 of 28

2022
20 September

ReleaseNorthrop Grumman to unveil the B-21 Raider

19 September

ReleaseL3Harris and Embraer to develop new Agile Tanker via KC-390 to support Air Force operational imperatives

7 September

ReleasePCX Aerosystems announces acquisition of Pacific Contours

1 September The P-8A Poseidon is a variant of the Boeing 737-800.

Special mission workstation qualifies to serve aboard Poseidon

Built with ultra-strong lightweight composites, the workstations improve aircraft and weapon systems' performance. They have an optimal viewing angle for both seated and standing crew members.

26 August

ReleaseBoeing invests $5 Million in Advanced Manufacturing Innovation Center in St. Louis

22 August

ReleaseThe Gill Corporation awarded contract extension of floor panel fabrication for Boeing 777, 777X and 787 programs

29 July

ReleaseFuselage SSJ-NEW arrived in Zhukovsky for testing

21 July

ReleaseNew contracts signed between Airbus and Turkish Aerospace

20 July

ReleaseAirbus to take up the hydrogen contrail characterisation challenge

20 July

ReleaseSafran unveils electric nose landing gear actuator

20 July

ReleaseAirbus completes assembly of first future wing prototype

19 July

ReleaseAirbus announces plant expansion in Querétaro

6 July There are around 400 staff at the Florida facility.

Daher extends North American capability with Stuart acquisition

Stuart is well versed in the assembly of large, complex metallic and composite aerostructures, which complements Daher's competence in their design, manufacture, installation and repair.

30 June

ReleaseElbit Systems completes the sale of Ashot to FIMI Opportunity Funds for $84 million

27 June

ReleaseSpirit AeroSystems celebrates launch of new manufacturing program in Morocco

22 June CityAirbus NextGen's rear structure will be ultra-lightweight.

Airbus taps automotive expertise for CityAirbus fuselage

Directly interacting with the centre fuselage and the wing, the rear structure will leverage the suppliers' expertise in homogeneous design for FormulaE and Formula One vehicles.

2 June The EcoPulse demonstrator aircraft.

Daher plans sustainability for all aspects of production

Aircraft maker Daher is setting up three new innovation centres, called Techcenters, that cover each of its core businesses: aircraft manufacturing, aerospace equipment and logistics.

13 April The Liebherr-Airbus A220 main landing gear.

Liebherr collaborates on future Airbus landing gear

Liebherr already supplies the A220 landing gears and the A350 nose landing gear. Now it looks set to continue as a major supplier to Airbus for future aircraft models.

13 April The partly 3D-printed wind-tunnel model - built by the aerodynamics team at Airbus’ low-speed, wind-tunnel facility in Bristol.

Filton tunnel completes innovative wing testing

Technologies tested in the Filton wind tunnel - many inspired by biomimicry which takes inspiration from nature to improve wing aerodynamics - will include gust sensors, pop-up spoilers and multifunctional trailing edges.

6 April

ReleaseLiebherr and HAL sign Memorandum of Understanding

30 March Qarbon Aerospace has completed the first Hexa eVTOL aircraft.

LIFT receives first composite eVTOL from Qarbon

Hexa can fly for up to 15 minutes on a charge with 25% battery remaining for safety margin. Actual flight times are dependent on pilot weight and weather conditions, and will generally range from 8 to 15 minutes.

23 March

ReleaseJapan Aerospace Corporation and Kawasaki Heavy Industries engage DART Aerospace to certify fire attack system for the new five-bladed H145//BK117D-3

17 March The fully electric CityAirbus NextGen is an eVTOL prototype equipped with fixed wings, a V-shaped tail, and eight electrically powered propellers as part of its distributed propulsion system.

Spirit starts work on CityAirbus eVTOL wings

Spirit's longstanding relationship with Airbus includes the provision of fully integrated wings and wing elements for multiple Airbus commercial aircraft. Now it will apply its skills to eVTOL wings.

14 March

ReleaseQarbon Aerospace partners with Georgia Tech for NASA's University Leadership Initiative (ULI) to address barriers in the development of civilian vertical lift vehicles

9 March Kaman Aerospace Jacksonville Division will continue to deliver the HH-60W Combat Rescue Helicopter cockpit from 2022 through 2025.

Sikorsky extends Kaman cockpit deal for the HH-60W

Kaman has been providing H-60 cockpits since 2004 and a new deal now takes the arrangement with Sikorsky up to 2025 for the HH-60W Combat Rescue Helicopter.

24 February The F-16.

Reactivated IAI line resumes F-16 wing deliveries

Prior to reopening the F-16 wing and fin lines, IAI invested in modernising infrastructure, improving the work environment, and introducing new tools to produce fully compliant aerostructures.

22 February

ReleaseAirbus, Safran and Tikehau Ace Capital sign an agreement with Eramet for the joint acquisition of Aubert & Duval

16 February

ReleaseNorthrop Grumman delivers 900th F-35 centre fuselage

16 February Albany Engineered Composites has been selected by Sikorsky Aircraft to produce the complete CH-53K aft transition assembly.

Albany wins ten-year contract for CH-53K assemblies

Long-lead funding is already under way to support the assembly of CH-53K aft transitions, and the contract is expected to be finalised in the first quarter of 2022 with first deliveries in 2023.

10 February Vertical Aerospace says it will scale up to produce up to 2,000 VX4 electric aircraft per year.

Leonardo partners Vertical for VX4 composite fuselage

With a rapidly filling order book Vertical has brought the aerostructures development and manufacturing skills of Leonardo at Grottaglie on board to co-develop the fuselage of its VX4 eVTOL.

3 February

ReleaseBAE Systems achieves key production milestones for the F-35 Fighter

3 February

ReleaseEmployment and investment initiative: FACC creates more than 200 new jobs and invests EUR 150 million

2 February

ReleaseTriumph Group announces the sale of its Stuart aerostructures business to Daher Aerospace

2 February

ReleaseBell completes successful demonstration for NASA SIO extension in collaboration with Hillwood and Northwest ISD

2 February Lockheed Martin’s LMXT strategic tanker is offered as an American-built, allied interoperable solution for the U.S. Air Force’s KC-Y program.

Lockheed Martin's LMXT will be made in Mobile and Marietta

The LMXT is produced as an A330 airliner at Airbus' Mobile, Alabama facility then fly to Lockheed Martin Aeronautics' Marietta, Georgia, for conversion into the tanker role.

21 January

ReleaseNorthrop Grumman reaches E-2D manufacturing milestone

13 January GKN Aerospace will supply flight control structures for the G800 and G400.

Gulfstream confirms GKN as contractor for latest jets

GKN is a long-standing supplier of empennages, fuselage panels, floorboards, rudders and wing skins for Gulfstream's long-range models, and this new agreement further extends that participation.

6 January The team celebrates after the MC-21-300 aircraft makes its first flight with a wing made of Russian-made polymer composite materials.

MC-21-300 flies with Russian composite wing

Certification of the MC-21-300 aircraft is nearing completion, and it is planned to start delivering it to customers in 2022. The MS-21-310 aircraft with the new Russian PD-14 engine is undergoing flight tests.

6 January Airbus Atlantic will play a key role in the aerostructure supply chain.

Airbus combines aerostructure assembly under Atlantic banner

Airbus Atlantic will be an essential element in the aerostructures supply chain, with more than 500 direct suppliers (flying products) and more than 2,000 indirect suppliers. STELIA and Airbus sites are involved.

2021
2 December Global interest is high for new-build F-16 with orders already secured from Bahrain, Bulgaria, Slovakia and two other international customers.

Lockheed Martin looks to Poland for major F-16 assemblies

PZL Mielec last manufactured jet powered aircraft more than 20 years ago. Now it will build the rear fuselage, centre fuselage, cockpit structure, cockpit side panel and forward equipment bay for all F-16s.

2 December The MC-21-300 is transferred from the final assembly facility at the Irkutsk Aviation Plant to the flight test division.

Final assembly of MC-21-300 is complete

The share of composites in the MC-21-300 design is about 40%, which Irkut says is a record figure for medium-range aircraft. After switching to local production, the first aircraft is about to fly.

2 December Aernova will partner with Heart Aerospace to design the wing, fuselage and empennage of the nineteen passenger, ES-19 electric aircraft.

Heart selects Aernnova to help design ES-19 structure

The 19-passenger ES-19 has an aluminium airframe with retractable landing gear, a high wing, a T-shaped empennage and a non-cylindrical fuselage to optimise the cabin interior. It is Heart Aerospace's first aircraft.

29 November

ReleaseCommunications & Power Industries completes ESSCO acquisition

25 November

ReleaseAciturri receives the award of the rudder and elevator contract for the F10X

17 November

ReleaseARCH Precision Components acquires Metalcraft Technologies

14 November

ReleaseElbit Systems establishes a company in the United Arab Emirates

4 November

Quickstep signs supply agreement with Swoop Aero

The initial order value under the strategic supply agreement with Swoop Aero is approximately $1.5 million with a delivery period expected to run through to mid-2022, and there is scope for an increased order.

28 October Saab’s West Lafayette, Indiana, factory will produce the aft section of the T-7A advanced jet.

Saab opens US facility to aid Boeing contract

The Boeing-Saab team is producing an advanced trainer for the U.S. Air Force, with Saab providing the aft section, which is currently manufactured in Sweden before being shipped to the U.S.

28 October The GKN Aerospace aviation forum focused on a sustainable future of flight, the path to net zero emissions and the workforce of the future.

GKN celebrates technology centre opening

GKN Aerospace's Global Technology Centre will focus on sustainable aviation research and development. At full capacity the collaboration centre will host 300 engineers.

22 October

ReleaseThe rear fuselage of the Racer demonstrator ready for delivery