Great advances have been made in computational fluid dynamics and flight-simulation programs. Yet, when it comes to aircraft and missile designs, no amount of modeling can replace real-world testing using wind tunnels.
ST. LOUIS—The Boeing Co. has reached a contract agreement with members of the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers that moves workers from a traditional pension plan to enrollment in the company’s 401k plan and offers eligible members a signing bonus and wage increases over the life of the contract, which expires in July 2022.
HUNTSVILLE, AL—Raytheon Co. has revolutionized missile manufacturing at its sprawling, classified factory here, where automated transporters ferry missile parts to gleaming assembly stations, and even tuck themselves away for charging when their batteries run low.
NOVI, MI—Airbus Group Innovation and EOS recently conducted a test that pitted rapid investment casting against direct metal laser sintering. Engineers examined an Airbus A320 nacelle hinge bracket, focusing on its overall lifecycle. The testing will serve as the basis for an ongoing cradle-to-grave study into other aerospace parts and production processes.
REDDITCH, UK—GKN Aerospace has begun a project that aims to automate the assembly of aircraft structures with the goal of creating high-quality wing structures 30 percent faster than is possible today.
EVERETT, WA—Boeing will build a new factory here to make wings for its 777X wide body jet, assuring more than a decade of work on advanced composite materials for thousands of Snohomish County workers. The facility will be adjacent to the final assembly line for the jet.
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