Fri, Sep 10, 2010
GKN Aerospace Employs Latest Design And Manufacturing
Techniques
The first major structural assembly for the CH-53K heavy lift
helicopter has been delivered by GKN Aerospace to Sikorsky Aircraft
Corp. The CH-53K helicopter's aft transition fuselage section
measures approximately 20 feet long by 9 feet wide and 9 feet high
and features an advanced hybrid composite, aluminium and titanium
structure covered with external composite skins.
The work is being undertaken as part of a multi-year System
Design & Development (SDD) contract in which GKN Aerospace was
accorded full design authority and manufacturing responsibility for
the CH-53K helicopter aft transition fuselage section, cargo ramp,
and overhead door structural assemblies. GKN Aerospace was awarded
the contract in 2007 and will deliver seven development ship sets
to Sikorsky by 2012.
Structural design was carried out by the GKN Aerospace
Engineering Development Center in Nashville, TN, while
manufacturing takes place at the Company's plant in St. Louis, MO.
Full production of 156 ship sets is expected to commence in 2013
and continue through 2022.
Sikorsky Image
To meet demanding CH-53K helicopter program weight, durability
and affordability objectives, GKN Aerospace is employing the latest
design and manufacturing technologies including automated fiber
placement (AFP), automated trim and drill and digital inspection.
In total, more than 1,000 separate metallic and composite detailed
parts per aircraft are manufactured and assembled by the GKN
Aerospace team.
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