The company "AeroComposit-Ulyanovsk" (part of the United Aircraft Corporation) has launched the first serial production site in Russia for the production of thermoplastic composite materials. In the future, it may be possible to build the first domestic new generation aircraft based on them, said Anatoly Gaidansky, General Director of the enterprise.
Until now, serial production of such materials existed only abroad. The materials are planned to be used in key structural elements — leading edges of the wing, ribs and fasteners.
The main advantage is a 15–20% reduction in aircraft weight, which reduces fuel consumption and the cost of flights.
As a reminder, thermoplastic composites differ from traditional thermosetting ones — they withstand high loads and can be completely recycled after use. Composite materials are already widely used, for example, in the MC-21 airliner.
Earlier www1.ru reported that the MC-21 crew did not risk landing in strong winds during testing.
