In the year when we celebrate the 100th anniversary of the first vertical flight, Hexcel is proud to be displaying the Bell-Boeing V-22 Osprey rotor on its stand at the SAMPE convention (Baltimore, 4-7 June).  Hexcel is a major supplier of composites for the V-22 in the form of honeycomb from Casa Grande (Az), HexPly® 8552 prepreg from Salt Lake City (UT), and engineered core and skin to core bonded assemblies from Pottsville (PA)   Hexcel also manufactures helicopter rotor components for Sikorsky at its facility in Kent (WA) and will be displaying a selection of parts including a spar cross section, tip caps and spacer assemblies.

The first vertical take-offs were the work of pioneering French engineers, with Paul Cornu achieving the most successful take off near Lisieux on November 13th 1907, but the transfer of vertical take off to successful flight was to then take another 7 years with the first one kilometer complete flight circuit being achieved by Etienne Oehmichen in 1924.

In stark contrast, the V-22 makes this transition seem effortless, converting from a vertical take-off to horizontal flight by means of the tiltrotors.  Once airborne, its engine nacelles can be rotated to convert the aircraft to a turboprop airplane capable of high speed, high altitude flight. 

Other displays on the Hexcel stand at SAMPE will include JEC Innovation Award Winning HexWeb® Acousti-Cap™.  HexWeb ® Acousti-Cap™ consists of a non-metallic permeable cap material embedded into honeycomb core to create an acoustic septum.  Hexcel’s customers specify the flow resistance characteristics they want in the product, as well as overall core thickness, numbers of caps in a cell, and insertion depth.  The resultant product is an assembly that is tuned to their acoustic requirements thereby reducing some forms of engine noise.  This noise reduction can result in many benefits, including: recurring cost savings due to a reduction in landing fees at airports, increased fleet flexibility, improved cabin comfort and fewer other acoustic treatments in the fuselage that affect weight and cost. 
Other exhibits on the Hexcel stand at SAMPE will include HexMC® structural aircraft components manufactured by Hexcel in Kent, USA, for application on Boeing aircraft; and a mould tool manufactured by Visioneering, Michigan, USA, using Hexcel’s unique HexTOOL™ machinable composite tooling material, and a GE 90-115B composite fan blade, manufactured by CFAN using HexPly® IM7/8551-7 epoxy unidirectional tape and fabric.

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Hexcel Corporation, based in Stamford, CT, is a leading advanced structural materials company. It develops, manufactures and markets lightweight, high-performance reinforcement products, composite materials and composite structures for use in commercial aerospace, space and defense, and industrial applications. Hexcel has offices and manufacturing plants around the world.

Contact:  Doreen Holmes
Tel: (925) 551-4900 x 4428
Doreen.holmes@hexcel.com