Continued improvement through knowledge sharing

17th March 2008

By applying its marine expertise to an aviation project, High Modulus has in turn incorporated ideas from the aviation sector into its own design methodology.

High Modulus was approached to get involved with a new venture aimed to develop a high-performance experimental kit plane suitable for amateur builders. The aim was to provide the kit in as few parts as possible so Falcomposite, the development company, turned to the successful use of composite technology in the marine industry as a model to achieve this.

Other kit planes do use composites, but they are often complex to build, lack quality control, and consist of thin skins with lots of framing - an approach applied by engineers used to developing metal structures, rather than composite design specialists.

High Modulus teamed with ANZES (Air New Zealand Engineering Services), and through this gained an insight into the differences between aerospace and marine design methodology. Of particular interest was the approach to statistical analysis of mechanical tests, and the similarities between the load bearing on wings and that on the centerboards of canting keel boats. As a result of this collaboration, High Modulus now has the capability to perform its materials and laminate tests to US Military Standards, which are recognized around the world; and a more in-depth understanding of the shock load and pressure distribution in dynamic loading of daggerboards on canting keel yachts.

The first plane was publicly unveiled in Auckland in early February, with kits 2 and 3 already in build.