Composite materials make today's aircraft stronger and lighter. Compared to metal airframes, however, they offer less shielding for the flight systems inside the aircraft. Consequently, the aerospace industry is creating more stringent lightning strike standards. One way to meet these news standards is through the use of PLADs, or plastic large-area devices. Described in this report from Aerospace Engineering Online, PLAD packages feature "one or two semiconductor die of large area connected to a large contact/thermal pad." The larger pad is said to improve TVS (transient voltage suppressor) thermal management, permitting better protection from repetitive surges or very long, multi-stroke threats.

A proven aerospace storage solution, Vidmar cabinets allow you to reduce your storage space without reducing the amount of material you can store. Call 800-523-9462 or visit StanleyVidmar.com.

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Variable Reluctance (VR) speed sensors integrate dual windings within the sensor housing for redundant output capability in critical applications. Dual Winding VR Models incorporate wide temperature ranges, stainless steel housings, MIL spec connectors, and grounding to enhance EMI protection. Custom development to support specific application requirements.

The MCK and MCD Series of connectors are designed to meet the applicable requirements of MlL-PRF-83513. Designed for both military and commercial applications, the MCK's and MCD's are especially well suited for use in miniaturized airborne and space electronics, computers, and test equipment.

Contact your local sales office or e-mail info@powell.com for more information.

This miniature RTD surface sensor, designed to perform in high-vibration and high-shock environments features a flat surface, very low weight and extremely small in size.

For Aerospace, Military and Marine applications, Ultra Electronics, Nuclear Sensors, and Process Instrumentation (NSPI) offers a wide selection of high reliability RTDs.

Hair-like projections, or tin whiskers, can wreak havoc in electronic systems where soldering material connects components. Now, one company has come up with a tin/lead conversion process to mitigate whisker formation in surface-mount components. The proprietary method is used on components originally terminated with tin-only solder resulting in at least 5% lead on the surface of the terminations — without damaging sensitive components with extensive hot solder. The company will evaluate, at no charge, a customer's components to see if the technique is applicable.

To streamline airframe assembly, manufacturers need a system that keeps track of the many thousands of fasteners used by different manufacturing cells. Drilling feeds and speeds must be coordinated with the various stages of assembly, and material differences must be accounted for. New software makes this possible by linking fastener data with automation equipment to facilitate concurrent assembly.

The small form factor of MEMS devices and sensors would seem to make them ideal for space projects, as long as they could reliably survive the harsh environment. One method being explored to achieve that goal, reports ElectroIQ, is to encapsulate the devices with hermetic sealing methods to protect them from temperature and radiation extremes.

For designers working on developing radar or satellite systems operating in the S-band, power transistors offering high-performance in a small package are a distinct help, and gallium nitride high electron mobility transistors (GaN HEMTs) built on silicon carbide (SiC) substrates can fill the bill. Cree, Inc. now offers a family of discrete GaN-on-SiC HEMTs as well as a monolithic-microwave-integrated-circuit (MMIC) power amplifier using the same transistor technology. According to Cree, the 75 W amplifier features high power-added efficiency (typically 60%) and operates from 2.7 to 3.5 GHz with 20 dB gain.

SAE Aerospace Standards provides portable access to more than 4,900 current standards, specifications, recommended practices, and resource documents-including converted military specifications. This annual subscription product is updated quarterly to capture any new, revised, or cancelled standards.

Provides Aerospace Metalworking Manufacturing assured satisfaction with a no-hassle performance guarantee and complimentary trials. Add exemplary customer service, you have a partner that helps increase productivity. For product information or a complimentary trial go to cimcool.com

High-performance cavity filters from Anatech Electronics deliver the high rejection and other key features needed to eliminate signals interfering with all types of defense communications systems from HF through 40 GHz. They're rugged, weatherized, and can meet MIL SPEC requirements. See our capabilities in detail.

Infrared heating has significant advantages in manufacturing of aerospace composites. New manufacturing techniques require heat for various processes, and Heraeus Noblelight IR provides targeted, efficient heat where and when it's needed. Infrared is also a popular heat source for other aerospace-related processes, including laminating, forming, bonding, fusing, and activating. Learn more...

Engineers are using titanium with composite aerospace structures because standard aluminum corrodes when bonded to the non-metallics. The newest alloy is Ti-5-5-5-3, a near-beta titanium alloy with higher fatigue and fracture toughness and tensile strength compared to beta-processed alpha beta titanium alloys. "Triple nickel's" ease of forging into complex shapes and its ability to be heat-treated to above 180 ksi (1240 MPa) ultimate tensile strength makes it a better choice than traditional alloys.

To increase the volume of fiber in composite materials up to 65%, Advaero has developed a Heat Vacuum Assisted Resin Transfer Method (HVARTM). The method adds a low grade of heat to increase fiber production. Although it starts with the same amount of raw material, the process produces more carbon fiber than standard manufacturing.

The principals in Trek Aerospace formed a company to develop a hybrid internal combustion/electric powertrain flying car. The vehicle is projected to combine new materials and electronic technologies with ducted fans. No word, though, on exactly how the fuel/electric propulsion functions as a "hybrid" or if there is any regenerative recovery of energy, as in hybrid ground vehicles.

Despite their high-profile presence in the war on terror, and their far-reaching potential for commercial use, unmanned aircraft remain somewhat of a novelty. But, as this piece from Aerospace Manufacturing and Design points out, the concept of expendability promises to "alter the design culture for aerospace engineers and designers." Development of UAVs, says the author, will require new low-cost/high volume manufacturing and production processes, not to mention advanced manufacturing techniques and rapid prototyping capabilities.

Thermax's Gigabit Ethernet Cables will meet your high-speed needs while providing industry-leading performance. Gigabit-10HP™ with Bonded Pair technology and X-Web ensures reliable 10 Gigabit performance; Gigabit-Plus™ provides exceptional 1000 Base-T performance; and Gigabit-Flexx™ cables provide 1000 Base-T performance and are highly flexible with an installable bend radius of .75 in.

High-density materials are used as aerospace alloys, combining mechanical strength and easy machinability. Because tungsten is so dense, it is possible to reduce the physical size of components, offering greater control of weight distribution. Aerospace alloy applications include rotor blades, propellers, inertial systems, fluid control systems, bucking bars, trim weights, and prototype models

The new low-noise Silicon Designs model 2210-005 MEMS capacitive accelerometer module features a ±5 g range with high-drive, low-impedance buffering, and a simple four-wire connection. The sensor's high-quality MEMS sensing elements are packaged in a lightweight anodized aluminum with on-board regulation to minimize supply voltage variation effects.

Master Bond Supreme 10HT is a cryogenically serviceable one component epoxy system formulated to cure at elevated temperatures. This compound offers tensile shear strengths in excess of 3,600 psi and T-peel strengths up to 30 pli. Supreme 10HT also withstands severe thermal cycling along with mechanical shock and vibration.

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Accessing health-monitoring data from older aircraft can help maintenance efforts and keep planes flying. But how do you pull the data — especially from aircraft that have no central computer systems? This AviationWeek commentary offers some insights about 1) getting the data off the aircraft, and 2) turning that data into information that can assist maintenance decisions and planning.

To bring Web access to passengers, the aircraft industry is asking cellular and satellite companies to provide more bandwidth and broader coverage. This is easier said than done. A report from the SAE outlines some of the technology trends needed to meet growing demand from the flying public.

Wi-Fi in the Sky?

In-flight connectivity is coming. What are the ramifications for aircraft safety?

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