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More propaganda...
Posted by bdk on Thu Oct 31, 2002 04:43:51 PM
In reply top Boeing 307 Stratoliner expected to fly again in mid-June! posted by bdk on Thu Oct 31, 2002 12:31:10 PM
Fabrication Division helps restore Stratoliner
Journalists toured the Boeing Fabrication Division at Auburn, Wash., recently to get an up-close view of work being done to help restore the Boeing 307 Stratoliner to flying condition. The reporters received an overview of the steps necessary to reverse-engineer and fabricate parts to replace a damaged engine cowling, one of many parts the division will build and assemble for the Stratoliner. The tour demonstrated how the division's manufacturing business units work together to design and build parts.
Reporters viewed the damaged nose ring at the Emergent Manufacturing Facility, where Bluestreak mechanics by early next year will build and assemble four new engine cowlings after fabricating 16 sub-assemblies and more than 1,300 detail parts.
New tooling must be designed and built before actual parts fabrication can begin, however, since the Stratoliner has long been out of production. Drawings and tooling used to design and build the Boeing 307 are insufficient and, in many cases, non-existent.
Tool Design Engineering showed the journalists how Fabrication is designing needed tooling using reverse engineering, CATIA (computer-aided three-dimensional interactive application) and rapid prototyping. In many areas the designers were challenged to create totally new engineering definition. The visit culminated with demonstration of a five-axis milling machine to build a stretch-forming tool so mechanics can fabricate stiffening ring segments for the cowling nose rings.
Integrated Aero Structures is another Fabrication Division manufacturing business unit supporting restoration of the Stratoliner. IAS is stretch-forming and hydro-forming parts for the cowling, as well as body frames and other parts needed to rebuild the belly of the airplane.
The media visit project was managed by Dirk Sundbaum, a Bluestreak manufacturing engineering lead for the Emergent Manufacturing Facility, who brings to the Stratoliner project experience as an aircraft restoration volunteer, licensed aircraft mechanic and Bluestreak mechanic. Demonstrations were provided by Bluestreak mechanics, Dave Gunderson and Ron Potts from the Emergent Manufacturing Facility, along with Tool Engineering representatives Jeff Krueger, Gary Frashefski, Rory Daigle, Steve Larson and Tom Wilson.
The Stratoliner will be permanently displayed at the Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum's new facility, the Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center, when it opens in December 2003 at Washington Dulles International Airport. To read the article published in the South County Journal, click on: http://www.southcountyjournal.com/local_news.html