Testing Times for Composite Flight

by Paul Marks New Scientist, 28 May 2005 Aircraft built from hefty quantities of carbon-fibre composites rather than aluminium will be taking to the skies in the next two years. The high-tech lightweight materials should help airlines slash their fuel costs, which they see as vital at a time when so many airlines are struggling to make money. But while there may be a compelling economic case for the new aircraft, composites present a unique set of engineering challenges to designers and certification authorities, who have to pronounce the planes fit to fly. Read the article