• Test phase and part qualification successfully completed
• Boeing expanded cooperation with FACC from 747-400 program to the new 747-8 aircraft

 

For the new 747 generation, Boeing is once again relying on the tested and approved services of FACC. On 6 March, 2009, FACC delivered the first wing components for the new Boeing 747-8 on schedule. The US aircraft manufacturer selected FACC in May 2007 as supplier for the Articulated Cove Panels.

Since the contract was award FACC has worked together with the customer on the development of the panels; has completed the development and procurement of the lay-up tools, the complex assembly and milling equipment as well as the comprehensive hardware package; has produced the test and first article parts; and has performed part qualification by the customer and the aviation authorities. FACC will produce the components for the 747-8 Freighter and the 747-8 Intercontinental, just as it did for the 747-400.

During the ceremony in the FACC facility in Ried, Austria, where the shipment was handed over to Boeing, Rick Mattern, Director of Airplane Programs Structures of Boeing, thanked the entire project team and paid tribute to the extraordinary achievements of FACC: „This is a great accomplishment by FACC. This hardware is built with sophisticated processes and meets Boeing's rigorous manufacturing and quality requirements. In the manufacturing of the ACP panels, FACC has overcome engineering, scheduling, manufacturing and business challenges." In his speech, he further addressed the extension of the longstanding business relationship between Boeing and FACC and stressed the excellent cooperation. „We want FACC to be successful, to be profitable and to grow with Boeing. I believe the business relationship and friendship that Boeing and FACC have will bring great success for FACC in the future." Christoph Zaunbauer, Director - Nacelle Programs of FACC, added: "The success was only possible because both teams, FACC as well as Boeing, worked together very closely. The confidence was more than given on both sides and therefore the production of the first article parts could be completed two months before schedule. I would like to congratulate both teams on this outstanding achievement."

Cost-efficient Production

The new long-range plane is derived from the Boeing 747-400, but has a fuselage that is six-meters longer, a new, elegant cabin, wings that are more aerodynamic, and will have the modern, efficient engines of the 787. Due to the enhanced design of the wings, Boeing has completely redesigned the articulated cove panel, whereby FACC engineers, working closely together with Boeing designers, were able to provide significant design input and could already ensure an ideal base for cost-efficient and high-quality production in the development phase. "Our years of experience in the production of these components for the previous 747-400 model were definitely an advantage," stated Franz Ahammer, project manager at FACC. However, higher static stress and the expectation of the customer to keep the weight at the same level required FACC to come up with a new design for the 747-8. "The new part design is essentially based on our expertise that we acquired on the 787 program, in particular on the spoiler of the long-range airplane," said Ahammer. One difference between this generation of the 747 and the previous model is that the articulated cove panel is not made of one single fibre glass panel, but two panels - one out of glass and the other out of carbon material. The two-panel concept instead of the previous design, as well as the additional use of carbon fiber, makes for better static performance of the component, thus meeting higher stress standards.

The articulated cove panel is an aerodynamic wing panel that covers the area between the wing surface and landing flaps on the upper surface of the wing adjacent to the fuselage. During flight and particularly when deploying the landing flaps, the component is exposed to a multitude of forces, which makes the high load capacity of the component necessary.

New Eco-friendly Boeing 747-8

The Boeing 747-8 Intercontinental and the 747-8 Freighter are the new high-performance members of the 747 family. The model number 747-8 was chosen in order to emphasize the technological similarities of the 787 and the new 747. The 747-8 utilizes the innovative technologies of the 787 to considerably improve the efficiency and the functionality of the 747-400, at the same time improving fuel consumption and reducing emissions and noise. The newest family of 747 planes complies with the wishes of the airlines for a passenger plane that serves the market for planes with 400 to 500 seats.

Boeing began production on the first 747-8 Freighter in August 2008. The first freighter will be delivered to Cargolux the third quarter 2010 following assembly and flight test. The first 747-8 Intercontinental passenger jet delivery is planned for the second quarter of 2011. Since the program began in November 2005, eleven customers have so far ordered 106 Boeing 747-8 Intercontinentals and Freighters.

 

About FACC

FACC AG is one of the world's leading companies in the development and production of advanced fiber reinforced composite components and systems for the aviation industry. Their range of products reaches from structural components for the fuselage and wings to engine components to complete passenger cabins for passenger planes, business jets and helicopters. FACC is a supplier to all large aircraft manufacturers such as Airbus, Boeing, Bombardier, Embraer and ACAC as well as for engine manufacturers and sub-suppliers of manufacturers.
In the business year of 2007/2008, FACC achieved a turnover of 251.9 million euros and as of February 29, 2008, employed 1,633. In the last business year (ended on Feb. 2, 2009) the company increased its turnover to 272 million euros, based on preliminary estimates. Further information can be found under www.facc.at.

 

Image Details:

Image 1: FACC hands over the first shipment of the 747-8 Articulated Cove Panels to Boeing
(from left to right, front: Christoph Zaunbauer, Walter Stephan (both FACC), Rick Mattern, Vernon Chee (both Boeing), Robert Machtlinger, Gertraud Öllinger and Gerhard Hainzl (FACC), back: Martin Hadeier, Andreas Schredl, Gernot Griesser, Alexander Zeilerbauer, Florian Gann, Stefan Regl (all FACC)
Copyright: FACC AG

Image 2: Rick Mattern, Director Airplane Programs Structures of Boeing, presented Christoph Zaunbauer, Director - Nacelle Programs of FACC, a model of the Boeing 747-8 recognizing the special benefits of the FACC team.
Copyright: FACC AG

Image 3: New Boeing 747-8
Copyright: Boeing