GKN Aerospace has become the latest company to join Boeing's Sonic Cruiser development team.
For managing director Kevin Smith, the move is a potential route into working for the Seattle-based manufacturer on civil aircraft for the first time. Its factories in the US already make advanced material structures for Boeing military aircraft.
GKN won the right to join the team – which also includes Stork Fokker Aerostructures and Fischer Advanced Composite Components on the materials front – after a competitive tender by Boeing to find the best technology partners to develop advanced materials and structures for the Sonic Cruiser. It will send about 20 engineers to Seattle to join Boeing's development group for the aircraft.
"This is a historic window of opportunity for GKN to forge a relationship (on civil aircraft) with Boeing," says GKN group director Graham Chisnall.
Whether Boeing launches the Sonic Cruiser or another design in the 250-300 seater aircraft range, GKN expects to be on the programme. It is already a risk-share partner on Airbus A380 wing parts, and it would look at becoming a risk-share partner on the Boeing aircraft when launched.
Stork Fokker Aerostructures of the Netherlands is perhaps best known for its success in bringing the Glare fibre/metal laminate to market on the Airbus A380.
Source: Flight Daily News
