U.S. Air Force installs multiple AM parts on C-5 Super Galaxy aircraft

March 7, 2019

News
March 7, 2019
U.S. Air Force installs multiple AM parts on C-5 Super Galaxy aircraft

A C-5 Super Galaxy aircraft at Travis Air Force Base, California, USA (Courtesy U.S. Air Force / Tech Sgt Justin D Pyle)

 

The U.S. Air Force’s Rapid Sustainment Office (RSO) has installed seventeen additively manufactured parts, including both polymer and metal AM components, on a C-5 Super Galaxy aircraft. Working with engineers at the C-5 Program Office, Air Mobility Command, and the 436th Airlift Wing which operates the aircraft, the RSO installed a variety of parts including new aluminium seal retention handles, redesigned to take advantage of the benefits of Additive Manufacturing.

Engineers stated that they had redesigned the handles to be more ergonomically friendly, lighter weight and more robust to installation variation. They were able to reduce build time and eliminate the two tone, multi-coat paint scheme that has been used since the inception of the aircraft, continuing to reduce costs.

A number of parts were also installed in the cabin and crew bunk areas of the plane, including overhead panels, reading and emergency light covers, window reveals and gasper panels.

“It is innovative ideas such as these that continue to drive down sustainment costs, leading to improved weapon system readiness,” stated Eddie Preston, a senior materials engineer for the RSO. “If you can imagine sitting on a commercial aircraft, everything around you including parts of the seat you are sitting in, we can print.”

Preston added that many of the parts that were replaced were not available for purchase or had long lead times. He said that using AM, parts “may only take a couple of days to print” versus the weeks, months or even years it could take to acquire parts by traditional measures.

In the near future, the C-5 Program Office and RSO teams will reportedly install more than twenty additional metal and polymer additively manufactured components on the aircraft, with metal components set to be made from titanium and other high strength alloys. As the Air Force’s Additive Manufacturing ‘library’ of parts continues to grow, it expects the cost benefits offered by the technology to increase.

The RSO estimates that future field production of these seventeen parts alone, could save tens of thousands of dollars, while improving part performance and continuing to improve weapon system readiness.

www.airforce.com

News
March 7, 2019

In the latest issue of Metal AM magazine

Download PDF
 

Extensive AM industry news coverage, as well as the following exclusive deep-dive articles:

  • Back to the future: A decade of Additive Manufacturing innovation and growth at Materials Solutions
  • Win or lose: A CEO’s reflections on Artificial Intelligence and Additive Manufacturing
  • AMS 2025 New York: A reality check for the Additive Manufacturing industry
  • Optimising powder removal in PBF-LB Additive Manufacturing: A Digital Twin approach
  • ValCUN’s MMD: A robust, wire-based aluminium AM technology for defence and industrial applications
  • Enhancing quality and reliability in metal Additive Manufacturing: The role of laser calibration

TRUSTED CONTENT. TARGETED AUDIENCE

Advertise with Metal AM and access a global base of 50,000+ AM professionals.

Contact Jon Craxford: [email protected]

  • AM machines
  • Process monitoring & calibration
  • Heat treatment & sintering
  • HIP systems & services
  • Pre- & post-processing technology
  • Powders, powder production and analysis
  • Part manufacturers
  • Consulting, training & market data

Don’t miss a thing – register for our newsletter

Don't miss any new issue of Metal AM magazine, and get the latest industry news. Sign up to our twice weekly newsletter.

Register now

Join 40,000+ other AM professionals – follow us online

About Metal Additive Manufacturing magazine

Metal AM magazine, published quarterly in digital and print formats, is read by a rapidly expanding international audience.

Our audience includes component manufacturers, end-users, materials and equipment suppliers, analysts, researchers and more.

In addition to providing extensive industry news coverage, Metal AM magazine is known for exclusive, in-depth articles and technical reports.

Our focus is the entire metal AM process from design to application.

Each issue is available as an easy-to-navigate digital edition and a high-quality print publication.

Discover our magazine archive…

The free to access Metal Additive Manufacturing magazine archive offers unparalleled insight into the world of metal Additive Manufacturing from a commercial and technological perspective through:

  • Reports on visits to leading metal AM part manufacturers and industry suppliers
  • Articles on technology and application trends
  • Information on materials developments
  • Reviews of key technical presentations from the international conference circuit
  • International industry news

All past issues are available to download as free PDFs or view in your browser.

Browse the archive

Share via
Copy link
Powered by Social Snap