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| New Horizontal Stabilator Design And Manufacturing Process |
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 A new horizontal stabilator design for the F/A-22 Raptor will save the program $1 million per aircraft. The new design involves mechanically fastening composite materials around a central shaft rather than bonding the materials under high pressure and heat in an autoclave. The new design also incorporates removable edges, which will make the stabilators easier to maintain or repair in the field. The manufacturing process associated with the new design will shave approximately thirty pounds from each stabilator and reduce its build time by approximately twenty-five percent. Vought Aircraft Industries of Dallas, Texas, was competitively selected by Lockheed Martin to build the new stabilator. Vought, which will begin manufacturing the new stabilators early next year, will produce eighty-five shipsets through 2007. Raptor 41, the first aircraft to be built in production Lot 3, will be the first F/A-22 equipped with Vought-built stabilators. This aircraft is slated for delivery to Langley AFB, Virginia. |
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