Top 15 Technologies
3.
Paintless technology is put to the test
-
Approximately 600 ft squared of the F-16, including the upper fuselage and wing surfaces was treated with a
black, pressure-sensitive, adhesive applique.
|
Alternative painting technologies have been long-term goals of the U.S. Air Force (USAF) and Navy. A protective film coating, rather than paint, has potential for offering significant savings in production costs, support requirements, and aircraft weight along with significant environmental advantages.
Therefore, Lockheed Martin (www.lockheedmartin.com) and the USAF have teamed up to develop and test this new technology through a series of F-16 flights. Approximately 600 ft2 of the aircraft, including the upper fuselage and wing surfaces, was treated with the pressure-sensitive, adhesive applique. Portions of the testing included flight speeds of Mach 0.85 and loading exceeding 5 g.
Lockheed Martin has been researching paintless aircraft technology for over two years and is considering it for the Joint Strike Fighter to improve cost and maintainability. The F-16 flight tests began in April following a flight demonstration of an S-3 operated by Navy squadron VS-32 at Cecil Field. The paint replacement film was applied to the aft of the anti-submarine aircraft.
Flight testing was funded by the USAF's F-16 System Program Office at Wright Patterson and the aircraft was furnished by the F-16 Combined Test Force at Edwards Air Force Base.
Approximately 600 ft2 of the F-16, including the upper fuselage and wing surfaces was treated with a black, pressure-sensitive, adhesive applique.
|
|
