Landing gear for the Boeing Dreamliner 787

Introduction

Innovation is at the heart of why the Advanced Manufacturing Park (AMP), situated just off the M1 at Rotherham is the UK’s premier advanced manufacturing technology park. The Yorkshire Forward project provides world-class advanced manufacturing technology solutions.

Summary

Without Yorkshire Forward and their investments in Innovation, the new Boeing 787 Dreamliner would not be able to take off or land.

The AMP in Rotherham focuses on materials and structures, covering metallic & composite materials typically used in precision industries including aerospace, automotive, sport, environmental and energy, oil and gas, defence, and construction.

When bidding for the landing gear for the Boeing Dreamliner 787 was opened, manufacturer Messier-Dowty came to the University of Sheffield Advanced Manufacturing Research Centre with Boeing, at the Advanced Manufacturing Park in Rotherham, to see if it was feasible to make landing gear parts from a new grade of titanium alloy.

The Dreamliner took it’s maiden flight on the 15th December 2009. Previously, landing gear had been made from steel, so as you can imagine, going from steel to titanium is a big step, but going from steel to an unknown grade of titanium (in this case Titanium 5553, a high-strength, low-weight material that can be made very hard) is a giant leap.

Using a combination of manufacturing techniques, the AMRC delivered a solution that Messier-Dowty to win the order. This is the first time it has been won by a company outside the USA.  So, the first time that South Yorkshire holiday makers land while onboard a 787 they should take heart and pride in the fact that one of the most important parts of their flight, the landing gear, was developed on the Rotherham-Sheffield border.

You can visit the AMP website at www.ampwaverley.com.

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