Although the general public sees composite aircraft as a new frontier in aviation, speakers during the recent Aviation Today webinar – Aircraft Composites: How New Materials are Forever Changing Aviation – on composite safety pointed out that experience with composites dates back three decades, making many of the issues raised by general assignment press reports and so-called industry experts red herrings.
Still, composites represent the most important improvement in aircraft construction since the introduction of aluminum in the 1920s. The adoption of these "miracle materials" is sweeping all sectors of aviation, challenging the traditional ways of doing business.
But it is the general aviation manufacturers that have been more aggressive on adopting composites than transport manufacturers, given the fact that Boeing’s soon-to-be-introduced 787 is 50 percent composites and the Beech Starship composite aircraft was introduced to the GA and business aircraft market in 1988. For a complete analysis of the Aviation Today's latest webinar see the next issue of Regional Aviation News.