Actuation, Engine Control and Electrical Power Systems teams provide
critical components to 1950s era Royal Air Force jet
CHARLOTTE, N.C., July 14 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- (Farnborough
International Airshow) When the restored Avro Vulcan XH558 thunders to the
air in its planned public appearance July 18 as part of the 2008
Farnborough International Airshow, the "Vulcan to the Sky" project will be
thanking a host of participants, including Goodrich Corporation (NYSE: GR).
Employees at two Goodrich business units in the UK -- Actuation Systems
in Wolverhampton and Huyton, and Engine Control and Electrical Power
Systems in Birmingham and Pitstone Green -- worked on the seven-year
project. When the Vulcan was originally produced Goodrich designed and
supplied 84 products consisting of 341 parts to each aircraft. Five of
these product-types restored by Goodrich were assessed as flight
safety-critical and required refurbishment, including the engine chassis
mounted fuel system, the constant speed drive unit, the engine AC
generator, the powered flying control unit electrical motors, and the
airborne auxiliary powerplant.
The restoration project for the Vulcan, which was retired from active
Royal Air Force service in 1984, presented the Goodrich team with a number
of challenges centering on obsolescence. In many cases, companies that had
originally manufactured parts for the 1956 aircraft had either gone out of
business or had been acquired by other companies. The lack of sources for
parts and materials drove the Goodrich team back to the original blueprints
to re-source replacement spare parts. In addition, special tooling and rigs
for assembly and test had to be re-invented, modified or refurbished.
"We were literally reliving history," said George Davison, Technical
Support Manager at Goodrich's Engine Control Systems in Birmingham, who
coordinated the project. "It was challenging, educational and rewarding,
particularly for the younger technicians and engineers."
Davison and his team recovered some "phantom knowledge," such as how to
refurnish the complex hydromechanical fuel systems and auxiliary
powerplants, from retired or near-retirement co-workers who worked on the
original Vulcan project in the early 1950s.
"As one of the longest-established aerospace companies in the UK, we
are proud to be part of the Vulcan to the Sky restoration project," said
Davison. "Apart from the heritage aspects of the program and the
extraordinary sight of this beautiful aircraft in flight, the long term
educational benefits for students and the general public are considerable."
The Avro Vulcan was developed after World War II, when the Cold War
ushered in the need for strategic bombers that could carry heavy bomb loads
long distances at high speeds and high altitudes. With a wingspan of 111
feet and four Rolls-Royce Olympus engines, the Vulcan became a symbol of
British engineering excellence, flying gracefully at altitudes up to 61,000
feet, yet maintaining unequalled maneuverability at altitudes as low as 500
feet.
Goodrich Corporation, a Fortune 500 company, is a leading global
supplier of systems and services to the aerospace and defense industry.
Serving a global customer base with significant worldwide manufacturing and
service facilities, Goodrich is one of the largest aerospace companies in
the world. For more information visit http://www.goodrich.com.
Goodrich Corporation operates through its divisions and as a parent
company for its subsidiaries, one or more of which may be referred to as
"Goodrich Corporation" in this press release.
SOURCE Goodrich Corporation; GR - Actuation and Landing Systems;
GR -
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Related links:
http://www.goodrich.com
CONTACT:
Farnborough Airshow: Laurie Tardif,
+1-704-264-7338, or Lisa Bottle, +1-704-258-1506
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