Russ Dunn, senior vice president, Engineering and Technology at GKN Aerospace, explained: “Through the application of advanced low drag surface coatings we aim to improve the efficiency of our customers’ aircraft, providing significant financial and environmental benefits. Working together, our team and the experts at Durham University are beginning to see early results from this research activity.”
This project is part of the GKN Aerospace-led future wing research programme, VIEWS, (Validation and Integration of Manufacturing Enablers for Future Wing Structures) which aims to bring promising wing design, manufacture and assembly technologies to near market readiness. The programme has received grant funding and support from the joint government and industry funding programme for aerospace R&D, delivered in partnership by the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills, Aerospace Technology Institute (ATI) and Innovate UK.
Engineers at the GKN Aerospace facility in Luton started working with the team from Durham University’s school of engineering and computing sciences in May, 2015. In November, 2015 the first tests were completed, with twenty coated surfaces assessed for their drag performance. This developmental phase now continues with the detailed assessment of a number of low drag surfaces, all treated with GKN Aerospace-developed coatings. The development phase is expected to conclude in mid-2016.
