thedrifter
08-10-08, 06:05 AM
Sunday AUGUST 10, 2008 :: Last modified: Sunday, August 10, 2008 2:08 AM MDT
A plane blanket
By LISA BISBEE
Star-Tribune correspondent
SHERIDAN n It’s a development they care about -- a chance to make a difference to U.S. soldiers, and possibly save lives.
Designing a lightweight ballistic protection system for the V-22 Osprey, a tilt-rotor naval plane flown by the Marines, Kennon Aircraft Covers of Sheridan is in the beginning stages of developing protection for troops flying in harm’s way.
“We’re all pretty passionate about saving soldiers,” said Mark Weitz, director of resources at Kennon Aircraft Covers. “I know if we can save just one soldier, I’ll feel better.”
Though they are just getting started on the ballistic protection design, Weitz said they are progressing quickly in the project that is part of a grant awarded by NAVAIR, the Naval Air Systems Command. Developing protection for the V-22 Osprey, which is designed to perform missions like a conventional helicopter with the long-range, high-speed cruise performance of a turboprop aircraft, is both exciting and challenging for the company that specializes in creating innovative products for the aviation world.
“We’re all pretty fired up about it,” Weitz said.
Opportunity to develop
Kennon Aircraft Covers recently received two Phase II Small Business Innovation Research grant awards totaling $525,000 from NAVAIR. The first award is to develop a new attachment method for the insulation blankets in the V-22, a composites-based aircraft. Traditional methods of attachment tend to damage the aircraft, so the solution being created by Kennon Aircraft Covers is designed to alleviate that problem, Weitz said.
Unlike commercial aircraft, which are paneled and insulated to regulate noise and temperature, the V-22 uses soft blankets which insulate but still allow access to the aircraft’s internal parts. Current blankets, much like piano blankets, are hooked to studs that are glued to the aircraft frame, and Weitz said the studs are difficult to install, can fail and cause the blanket to fall off.
“The attachment studs are breaking pieces out of the airplane,” he said.
Kennon initially pursued this project after seeing a need in an SBIR Solicitation. Applying for and receiving Wyoming Business Council award money, Weitz said they traveled to Maryland to learn first-hand the needs of the Marines who operate the aircraft daily.
“We talked to the soldiers that actually are on the aircraft,” Weitz said.
That knowledge was essential to the exploratory process, and it was while visiting with those soldiers that Weitz said they saw an opportunity to explore the development of a lightweight ballistic protection system for the V-22.
Now with a second award from the SBIR, Kennon Aircraft Covers is also developing bullet-proof protection for the V-22. Kennon’s development would replace existing blanket type insulation, providing thermo-acoustic and ballistic protection, while adding no additional weight.
Weight savings are essential for all aircraft, but especially for military aircraft that benefit from increased troop capacity and fuel.
“It’s armor-like protection at textile-like weights,” Weitz said.
One of the unique objectives of SBIR-supported research and development is for small businesses to team with academic institutions, draw from the strengths of both types of entities, commercialize the results, and thereby build a more diverse economic base, Weitz said.
“It’s kind of a new approach to how research and development is done,” he said.
In its development, Kennon is working closely with Dr. Dave Walrath at the University of Wyoming and Dr. Gwen Thomas at Auburn University. Also on the project is Kelly Brennan, a Sheridan native recently hired by Kennon Aircraft Covers and a recent recipient of a doctorate degree in engineering from UW.
Combining unique approaches and expertise to solving the problem of stopping projectiles, Weitz said they will test the product they design as they continue with the anti-ballistic project.
“We’re going to develop some products and then shoot them,” Weitz said.
But the company hopes to continue working beyond the development stage on both projects. Even though they are just in the initial stages of development, Weitz said Kennon Aircraft Covers is also excited about the prospect of developing new manufacturing capabilities in Wyoming.
“We want to develop it, but also build and manufacture it,” Weitz said. “We want to make it here in Wyoming.”
Ellie
A plane blanket
By LISA BISBEE
Star-Tribune correspondent
SHERIDAN n It’s a development they care about -- a chance to make a difference to U.S. soldiers, and possibly save lives.
Designing a lightweight ballistic protection system for the V-22 Osprey, a tilt-rotor naval plane flown by the Marines, Kennon Aircraft Covers of Sheridan is in the beginning stages of developing protection for troops flying in harm’s way.
“We’re all pretty passionate about saving soldiers,” said Mark Weitz, director of resources at Kennon Aircraft Covers. “I know if we can save just one soldier, I’ll feel better.”
Though they are just getting started on the ballistic protection design, Weitz said they are progressing quickly in the project that is part of a grant awarded by NAVAIR, the Naval Air Systems Command. Developing protection for the V-22 Osprey, which is designed to perform missions like a conventional helicopter with the long-range, high-speed cruise performance of a turboprop aircraft, is both exciting and challenging for the company that specializes in creating innovative products for the aviation world.
“We’re all pretty fired up about it,” Weitz said.
Opportunity to develop
Kennon Aircraft Covers recently received two Phase II Small Business Innovation Research grant awards totaling $525,000 from NAVAIR. The first award is to develop a new attachment method for the insulation blankets in the V-22, a composites-based aircraft. Traditional methods of attachment tend to damage the aircraft, so the solution being created by Kennon Aircraft Covers is designed to alleviate that problem, Weitz said.
Unlike commercial aircraft, which are paneled and insulated to regulate noise and temperature, the V-22 uses soft blankets which insulate but still allow access to the aircraft’s internal parts. Current blankets, much like piano blankets, are hooked to studs that are glued to the aircraft frame, and Weitz said the studs are difficult to install, can fail and cause the blanket to fall off.
“The attachment studs are breaking pieces out of the airplane,” he said.
Kennon initially pursued this project after seeing a need in an SBIR Solicitation. Applying for and receiving Wyoming Business Council award money, Weitz said they traveled to Maryland to learn first-hand the needs of the Marines who operate the aircraft daily.
“We talked to the soldiers that actually are on the aircraft,” Weitz said.
That knowledge was essential to the exploratory process, and it was while visiting with those soldiers that Weitz said they saw an opportunity to explore the development of a lightweight ballistic protection system for the V-22.
Now with a second award from the SBIR, Kennon Aircraft Covers is also developing bullet-proof protection for the V-22. Kennon’s development would replace existing blanket type insulation, providing thermo-acoustic and ballistic protection, while adding no additional weight.
Weight savings are essential for all aircraft, but especially for military aircraft that benefit from increased troop capacity and fuel.
“It’s armor-like protection at textile-like weights,” Weitz said.
One of the unique objectives of SBIR-supported research and development is for small businesses to team with academic institutions, draw from the strengths of both types of entities, commercialize the results, and thereby build a more diverse economic base, Weitz said.
“It’s kind of a new approach to how research and development is done,” he said.
In its development, Kennon is working closely with Dr. Dave Walrath at the University of Wyoming and Dr. Gwen Thomas at Auburn University. Also on the project is Kelly Brennan, a Sheridan native recently hired by Kennon Aircraft Covers and a recent recipient of a doctorate degree in engineering from UW.
Combining unique approaches and expertise to solving the problem of stopping projectiles, Weitz said they will test the product they design as they continue with the anti-ballistic project.
“We’re going to develop some products and then shoot them,” Weitz said.
But the company hopes to continue working beyond the development stage on both projects. Even though they are just in the initial stages of development, Weitz said Kennon Aircraft Covers is also excited about the prospect of developing new manufacturing capabilities in Wyoming.
“We want to develop it, but also build and manufacture it,” Weitz said. “We want to make it here in Wyoming.”
Ellie