(Wondering what people think the possibilities might be for helicopters, especially R22's and similar)
(Couldn't cut and paste into here for some reason)
http://www.netcomposites.com/news.asp?3527
rotorque
25th Jan 2006, 23:15
Great idea, but I am confident that it is not the first time this has been done. Certainly in the homebuild aircraft market, composite and carbon fibre intakes have been used for some time. Maybe it is the first time a 'commercial' production intake has been made.
I don't think that the O-320 will benefit too much from a carbon fibre intake, mainly due to the design of the intake system.
Things like Subaru engines and other conversion engines will get the most benefit in the short term. Especially engines that require a plenum chamber and run injection systems. It is the physical size of the chamber & pipes that increases the weight so anything that has better weight to strength is going to make a difference.
2 cents worth