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A revolution in aviation technology
is under way, and Mitsubishi Heavy Industries
(MHI) plays a key part in it. On May 14, the company shipped the first wing box—the
main structure of the wing—for Boeing’s next-generation 787 Dreamliner
passenger jet from the Oye Plant of its Nagoya Aerospace Systems Works in Nagoya.
This was a key moment in the history of aviation—for the first time, a 30-meter
wing box had been made almost entirely out of composite materials.
The material, known as carbon fiber-reinforced
plastic (CFRP), is stronger, more rigid, lighter and more corrosion-resistant
than conventional aluminum or titanium alloys. By using it throughout the airframe
in combination with newly developed engines and a minimal-drag fuselage based
on today’s most advanced aerodynamics, Boeing aims to improve fuel efficiency
by 20% and reduce maintenance costs by 30% over conventional aircraft.
Economics aside, CFRP will also benefit passengers by enabling more comfortable
cabin pressure, higher humidity and a more spacious interior. It all amounts to
a huge lift for passenger comfort.
For the first time, Boeing selected a partner to produce its wing boxes. Proud
to be chosen, MHI constructed two new factories at its Nagoya Aerospace Systems
Works: a facility to form the composite-material parts and an assembly factory.
The company also built a plant for composite-material skin stringers—thin,
rigid structures that reinforce the wing boxes—at its Shimonoseki Shipyard
and Machinery Works in Yamaguchi Prefecture.
The 787 Dreamliner, a mid-sized aircraft some 57 meters long and with a 60-meter
wingspan, will carry 210–250 passengers (standard specifications). With
584 orders from 45 airlines, it is the fastest-selling airplane ever and will
grace the skies from 2008. |
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| The wing box is loaded on to the Dreamlifter,
a specially designed cargo airplane, for transport to Boeing’s Everett Plant
in Washington |
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