C
R
A
D
A
Problem:
Century Aerospace
Corporation requested Wright Technology Network (WTN) assistance to obtain Air Force
Research Laboratory (AFRL) participation in the design and development of a new six-place,
twin turbofan engine, near all-composite business aircraft. The aircraft has dual-use
potential, in that the military may have use for such an aircraft for general proficiency
training, as well as for special air missions.
Solution: WTN worked with Century Aerospace Corp. and the Air Force Research Laboratory to develop a Cooperative Research and Development Agreement (CRADA) relationship with both the Air Vehicles Directorate and the Materials and Manufacturing Directorate of AFRL in support of this project. AFRL pledged over three man-years of effort under the two CRADAs. The scope of the CRADA with AFRL's Materials and Manufacturing Directorate includes consultation regarding composite materials selection, adhesive bonding, and providing access to composite materials processing technology and associated data bases. The scope of the CRADA with AFRL's Air Vehicles Directorate includes computational fluid dynamics, aeroelastic and flutter analyses, wind tunnel testing, static and fatigue testing, and fire suppression technology.
Benefits:
- The Century Jet by Century Aerospace Corp. has dual-use potential as an example of a near all-composite aircraft achieving FAA Part 23 Certification.
- The knowledge and data for certification of the aircraft represents a benchmark for initial life cycle performance of near all-composite air vehicle structures applicable to future Air Force acquisition of off-the-shelf FAA certified aircraft.
Current Status:
- The development of the Century jet is being paced by the availability of investment funding.
- Century was granted a loan by the National Center for Industrial Competitiveness (NCIC).
