A Novel Process for the Manufacture of Extended Laminar Flow Lipskins

Abstract

To reduce drag and improve efficiency, the next generation of aircraft will increasingly utilise laminar flow technologies. Of particular interest is the use of natural laminar flow in nacelle designs. A key element to achieving natural laminar flow is the elimination of joints on the external surface of the nacelle through the rearward extension of the lipskin trailing edge. Current processing methods are limited in their ability to produce these extended lipskins while meeting production rates, cost targets and the requirements of the natural laminar flow designs. A novel process for the production of extended natural laminar flow lipskins is presented along with a series of pre-production trials. The efficacy of the process is clearly demonstrated.