March 21, 2008 -- Lockheed Martin is building the first military cargo plane in which the craft's structure will be made of fibers, resins and epoxy, replacing metals such as aluminum and titanium. The composites hold huge potential for saving weight, a critical factor in aviation performance and fuel consumption, according to aviation experts. The goal is to put the test plane in the air by October 2008, one year after the $50 million contract was awarded.
Besides the benefit of saving fuel, composites can improve the performance and durability of the plane. Fiber materials resist corrosion and eliminate metal fatigue, factors that force major rebuilding of military aircraft after 20-30 years of hard use. The number of parts will also be reduced by at least 90% if, as planned, 306 composite parts replace up to 4,000 metal ones and thus lower the costs of manufacturing aircraft.
Abstracted from USA Today
