Unidym, a subsidiary of Arrowhead Research produced carbon nanotubes which are used in the cowling of Avalon Aviation's Giles G-200 engine which is a single-engine aerobatic carbon composite airplane. Unidym has asserted that such aircraft are often used to test the effects of engine vibration and aerodynamics stress on supplementary airframe materials to elevate the flexibility and strength. On April 11th 2018, Avalon Aviation Giles G-200 aircraft flew by incorporating Unidym’s carbon nanotubes into its carbon fiber composite engine cowling. Aerobatic aircraft with high performance are subject to increased stress and vibration, typically induce cracking many airframe components

Unidym, a subsidiary of Arrowhead Research produced carbon nanotubes which are used in the cowling of Avalon Aviation's Giles G-200 engine which is a single-engine aerobatic carbon composite airplane. Unidym has asserted that such aircraft are often used to test the effects of engine vibration and aerodynamics stress on supplementary airframe materials to elevate the flexibility and strength. On April 11th 2018, Avalon Aviation Giles G-200 aircraft flew by incorporating Unidym’s carbon nanotubes into its carbon fiber composite engine cowling. Aerobatic aircraft with high performance are subject to increased stress and vibration, typically induce cracking many airframe components.

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About Arrowhead Research Corporation and Unidym

Unidym is a leading player in terms of manufacturing and application of carbon nanotubes (CNTs), a novel material with out-of-the-box electrical, mechanical and thermal properties. Unidym offers bulk materials, intellectual property and CNT-enabled products to a vast range of business partners and customers. Lately, it has merged up CNI which led Unidym to own a cornerstone patent portfolio which covers approximately comprehensive aspect of CNT processing and manufacturing, as well as multifaceted applications and products.

Unidym has high-focus on the electronics industry where its introductory products are inclusive of transparent electrodes for touch screens, solar cells, solid state lighting and flat panel displays; thin film transistors for printable electronics; and electrodes for fuel cells. The company is working upon a cross-industry partnership strategy to assist the vast ranging applications of CNTs. Unidym's technical expertise, manufacturing facilities and licensing program can allow partners to promptly build CNT solutions for their precise applications. The company is a majority-owned subsidiary of Arrowhead Research Corporation (NASDAQ: ARWR).

Unidym which is majority-owned subsidiary of Arrowhead Research Corporation declared the first-ever flight of an aircraft which will incorporate Unidym’s carbon nanotubes into its airframe for augmented flexibility and strength to combat the effects of aerodynamic engine vibration and stress.

With more than 25 years of experience in the private jet industry, Avalon Aviation is pioneer and holds strong foothold with its offering like personalized, custom travel solutions for busy executives, entrepreneurs and CEOs on the go. On April 11th 2018, Avalon Aviation Giles G-200 aircraft flew by incorporating Unidym’s carbon nanotubes into its carbon fiber composite engine cowling. The Giles G-200 is a single engine with high performance and full-fledged aerobatic carbon composite aircraft. The cables which utilize different CNT components have the said potential to become a disruptive technology owing to the weight savings compared to already existing materials. In the physical world, these savings infer lowering weight from tens to thousands of pounds in platforms, be it satellites to manned military aircraft to UAVs.

Weight savings indicate prolonged times aloft. In a hypothetical situation, suppose the Global Hawk UAV weighs 850 pounds of cable. When metallic shield is replaced with CNT one, it will probably up to 300 pounds. A comprehensive CNT cable will ensure saving of extra 100 pounds, while shedding weight from 850 to 450 pounds. Advantage of using a CNT cable goes beyond aerospace applications. Weight savings holds high significance from soldier-worn equipment to ground vehicles.

aircraft with high performance are often preferred test bed of industry for novel airframe technology. In general, they are subject to higher levels of stress and vibration which usually induce cracking in different airframe components. The cowlings of engine should specifically endure high engine vibration while at the same time twisting and continuously shifting with respect to the rest of the airframe during aerobatic flight. Engine cowling witness numerous stresses from elevated gyroscopic forces and G-force as the aircraft is flown to the extent of its performance envelope.

“We are delighted that Avalon Aviation decided to incorporate Unidym’s carbon nanotubes into this sophisticated, state-of-the-art aircraft,” noted Arthur Swift, Unidym’s president and CEO. “For some time now the aerospace industry has been looking into the structural use of carbon nanotubes in high performance, composite airframes. To our knowledge this successful flight is the first time carbon nanotubes have actually been flown as part a major composite component of an aircraft’s fuselage.”

While unravelling the aforementioned problem statement, Avalon Aviation implemented carbon nanotechnology in order to heighten the reinforcement, while retaining flexibility, along with reduction in density of the resin which is used in the cowling’s carbon fiber composite material. This reduced weight is a substantial secondary advantage as the Giles G-200 usually experiences the force of gravity between +10 and -10 times as it practices some of the most arduous aerobatic maneuvers possible for an aircraft that is piloted by human. Greg Howard who is nationally recognized US competitive aerobatics pilot has flown Avalon Aviation’s Giles G-200.

“We’ve applied Unidym’s technology in a critical area of the Giles G-200,” said Greg Howard, Chief Pilot and co-owner of Avalon Aviation. “We are constantly looking for ways to reduce any potential composite failures due to vibration and other forms of stress. We are excited about potential composite applications of carbon nanotechnology and look forward to learning more from this initial application in order to expand the use of nanotubes elsewhere in our aircraft.”

In 2008, Avalon Aviation’s Giles G-200 was anticipated to be flown in various major air shows. In addition to that, it will probably fly in numerous competitive aerobatic events in the US National Aerobatic Championships in September 2008. Avalon Aviation is anticipated to offer technical services at the Advanced World Aerobatic Championship and its Giles G-200 is expected to be featured in the event’s closing, international air show.

CNT-based shields amalgamate upscale shielding effectiveness with substantial weight savings. A two-layer CNT tape delivers hardly the identical shielding as a copper braid at greater frequencies—roughly 50 dB at 4 GHz—but has lesser weight less than 2 percent of the braid it substitutes.

However, CNT shield with high resistivity is an indication of low shielding performance below 100 MHz and inadequacy to cater protection against lightning strikes. In the aerospace applications, double-braided cables are common and when one of the braid is replaced with CNT permit the remaining braid to endure low-frequency lightning and noise, while the CNT shield powerfully tolerate the higher frequencies. In case of hybrid shield constructions, weight savings touches 25 to 30 percent.