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Repairing composite aircraft structures — RAF experience of peacetime and battle damage techniques

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  04 July 2016

S. H. Chicken ,
S. Welburn  and
S. Reed
S. H. Chicken
Affiliation:
Royal Air Force Repair Design Authority RAF St Athan, Barry, Vale of Glamorgan, UK
S. Welburn
Affiliation:
Assistant Directorate Support Management 17 (RAF) Headquarters Royal Air Force Logistics Command, RAF Wyton Huntingdon, Cambridgeshire, UK
S. Reed
Affiliation:
Assistant Directorate Support Management 17 (RAF) Headquarters Royal Air Force Logistics Command, RAF Wyton Huntingdon, Cambridgeshire, UK
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Abstract

The RAF has been undertaking peacetime repairs on composite rotor blades, fibreglass radomes and panels on a variety of combat aircraft types for many years. However, the Service's main experience in the repair of aircraft structures manufactured from carbon fibre composite (CFC) material has been related to the Harrier II. In any future conflict involving air power, battle damaged aircraft, including the Harrier II, will have to be repaired rapidly to meet operational requirements. The repair techniques used may have to differ from those undertaken in peacetime but they must still aim to restore the full static strength of the aircraft within the time constraints imposed by the operational situation. Therefore, aircraft battle damage repair (ABDR) is a carefully planned alternative to conventional repair techniques. This paper describes the main CFC structures of the Harrier II and outlines the variety of RAF peace and wartime structural repair procedures applied to the aircraft. Examples are provided of various simple and complex repairs. Greater emphasis on adhesively bonded repairs is called for if Harrier II experience is to aid in the logistic support of Eurofighter 2000 (EF2000) in peace and war.

Type
Research Article
Information
The Aeronautical Journal , Volume 101 , Issue 1006 , July 1997 , pp. 277 - 285
Copyright
Copyright © Royal Aeronautical Society 1997 

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