Composites flying high

VisSnow /

Composites flying high P l a s t i c c o m p o s i t e s w e r e to be f o u n d on v i r t u a l l y every o n e o f t h e 200 f l y a b l e a i r c r a f t e x h i b i t e d a t t h i s y e a r ' s P a r i s Air Show, n o t a b l y t h e t a i l - f i r s t B e e c h c r a f t S t a r s h i p 2000A e x e c u t i v e t r a n s p o r t , s t i l l t h e l a r g e s t a l l - c o m p o s i t e a e r o p l a n e . Fut u r e t r e n d s w e r e w e l l i l l u s t r a t e d by t h e n u m b e r o f a l l - c o m p o s i t e t y p e s -- f i x e d a n d r o t a r y w i n g -- a n d by t h e i n c r e a s i n g u s e o f h i g h - s t r e n g t h b o r o n c o m p o s i t e s , as on t h e l a t e s t M i r a g e a n d R a f a l e f i g h t e r s , to s u p p l e m e n t g l a s s a n d c a r b o n , says aviation j o u r n a l i s t Ken Brookes.

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REINFORCED

PLASTICS

SEPTEMBER

Probably the largest all-composite aeroplane in the world is the Beechcraft Starship 2000A executive transport.

1993