[Text and
photos from Deseret Morning News, Sunday, March 12, 2006, www.deseretnews.com]
More than a century after the Wright brothers' first flight, breakthroughs
in aircraft development are still taking place. A pair of companies, including
one in Utah, are proving it.
Rocky Mountain Composites Inc. of Spanish Fork and California-based Spectrum
Aeronautical LLC are partnering on the Spectrum 33, a craft that looks like
a lot of today's sleek, light business jets. But RMC's contribution is only
skin-deep.
The Spectrum 33's composite-fiber skin, produced by RMC, is a first-of-its-type
lightweight, super-strong exoskeleton that sets the craft apart from its brethren,
such as the Cessna CJ2.
Oh, it may look a bit like the CJ2, but it's what can't be seen that makes
it special. The Spectrum is an all-composite craft, the first ever to have
its fuselage made from a single piece of composite material, RMC's proprietary
FibeX. Ditto for the one-piece wing. Composites also are used for control
surfaces, landing gear struts and other parts.
"There are some carbon-fiber airplanes and lots of carbon-fiber parts
out there, but we do it in one piece," James Winegar, in charge of RMC's
marketing, said of the fuselage and wing elements. "That's what's different."
While the price tag of $3.65 million will be attractive to many pilots, and
the lack of corrosion will significantly lower maintenance and "down
time" costs, the Spectrum 33's hallmark is its light weight, which means
one thing: big bucks in fuel savings. The company figures the plane will be
able to complete a 1,000-mile flight using 40 percent to 50 percent less fuel
than its nearest competitor.
"The Cessna CJ2's gross takeoff weight is 12,385 pounds with eight passengers
and fuel," Winegar said. "The Spectrum 33's is 7,300 pounds. That
translates into a savings of operating costs.
"We're not trying to be the fastest. We're fast, and we can operate at
45,000 feet — that's above all the traffic and where the airliners can
be — and it goes about 460 mph. And when we get it outfitted and trimmed
out with the plush interiors, it's going to be a thing of beauty."
Presented
by:
James S. Winegar
Asst. to President/Marketing Department
Rocky Mountain Composites
801-794-0200 office
E-Mail: jwinegar@rockymountaincomposites.com
Andy George,
a graduate student in the mechanical engineering program, will present his
innovative and exciting research into a new method of assessing weathering
of polymers. Andy has just completed his Master’s work, and is currently
teaching at BYU. He will start his PhD studies this fall in Germany.