Manufacturing Methods and Technology (MANTECH) Program Manufacturing Techniques for a Composite Tail Section for the Advanced Attack Helicopter.

摘要

This manufacturing methods and technology program involved the study of establishing manufacturing methods for a Composite Tail Section (CTS) for the AH-64A Advanced Attack Helicopter by the wet filament wound, cocure process. The CTS was meant to replace equivalent metal components on the AH-64A while providing potential weight and cost savings. Ballistic tolerance against 23mm HEI-T was demonstrated, and VHF antenna performance was shown to be unaffected by the change to composite construction. The program was terminated for fiscal reasons just when the CTS design was completed and the tooling design was within one month of completion. This CTS concept offers significant benefits to the AH-64A helicopter program and should be reinstated at the earliest opportunity. (Author)