Boeing has engaged Liebherr to supply electronic control equipment for the landing gears of current- and next-generation 777s.
Liebherr says the equipment is part of the main landing gear steering system and comprises transducers – to measure nose landing gear deflection – together with control units for the main wheel steering mechanism.
If the pilot steers the nose wheel through 13°, the aft axle on each of the 777’s triple-axle main landing gear bogie deflects in order to cut turning radius and reduce tire scrub.
The Swiss-headquartered engineering group says that the German-based landing gear division of Liebherr-Aerospace will design the components, while a separate, dedicated electronics division will manufacture the equipment.
Boeing previously selected Liebherr to supply the supply wing-tip folding mechanism and additional equipment for the high-lift system on the under-development 777X.
The landing-gear electronics deal represents the first contract for the twinjet’s current generation, Liebherr says.
Meanwhile, Boeing has selected a number of UK-based companies to supply “all” raw materials to its new facility in Sheffield, the airframer says.
The site is Boeing’s first European production plant and is scheduled to manufacture, from later this year, 7,000 actuation system components per month for the 737 and 777 programmes.
Boeing says that Aeromet International will supply high-strength, complex and multi-core aluminium cast parts, while Maher will provide bespoke steel bar and pre-machined components.
Mettis has been recruited to supply steel alloy precision-forged components.
MetLase – a joint-venture between Rolls-Royce and Unipart – will provide Boeing with tooling and fixtures, as will Japanese machining tool specialist Nikken Kosakusho from its UK-based European division.
Source: FlightGlobal.com
