Pictured (left to right): James Driscoll (CCAD), David Cabrera (DEVCOM), Waruna Seneviratne (WSU-NIAR), Richard Rivera (DEVCOM), Steve Cyrus (WSU-FirePoint), Ron Horn (DEVCOM), Cindy Ponder (Army FVL-CFT), Pierre Harter (WSU-NIAR), Henry Justiniano (DEVCOM), Linda Trevino, Lloyd Federico (CCAD), Ron Brychta (DEVCOM), Tim Johnson (WSU-FirePoint), Darin Weers (WSU-FirePoint), William Avila (CCAD), John Solberg (DEVCOM)
Leaders from the U.S. Army’s Future Vertical Lift Cross-Functional Team (FVL CFT), engineers from the U.S. Army’s Combat Capabilities Development Command (DEVCOM) and engineers from Corpus Christi Army Depot (CCAD) visited Wichita State University’s National Institute for Aviation Research (NIAR) and FirePoint Innovations Center this month.
The group explored several areas of on-going and potential future research and toured NIAR Robotics, Reverse Engineering, Additive Manufacturing, eXtended Reality, Composites and Advanced Materials, Emerging Technology and DoD Sustainability Programs including the UH-60 Black Hawk Digital Twin and structural testing and B1-B Digital Twin.
“We look forward to working with Wichita State in support of new technologies that will prepare us for future FVL sustainment and provide near-term benefits,” said Ron Brychta, DEVCOM.
“We are proud to be partnering with Army Aviation in their mission to modernize technology for legacy platforms and to explore new technologies to support Future Vertical Lift,” said Steve Cyrus, FirePoint Executive Director.
The group also toured Spirit AeroSystems, one of the world's largest manufacturers of aerostructures for commercial airplanes, defense platforms, and business/regional jets. The tour centered on warehousing logistics, using the digital thread in production improvements, inspection technologies and composite manufacturing capabilities.
“It was great visiting with WSU-NIAR and Army FVL-CFT representatives at the WSU campus,” said attendee Linda Trevino, CCAD. “I enjoyed viewing the emerging technologies that are reshaping the aviation industry. I was impressed with some of the tools and technologies that NIAR and Spirit representatives demonstrated.”
“Thanks to WSU-NIAR and FirePoint for showing us some of the latest aviation maintenance and overhaul capabilities available and what possibilities exist for the future for sustaining the enduring and future fleets,” said Ron Horn, DEVCOM.
“Partnering with Wichita State is critical in regards to our Bridging Strategy and our overall sustainment approach,” said Cindy Ponder, FVL CFT senior sustainment advisor.
About NIAR
NIAR provides research, testing, certification and training for aviation and manufacturing
technologies. Established in 1985, NIAR has a +$125 million annual budget; 850 staff
and nearly one million square feet of laboratory and office space in four locations
across the city of Wichita, the Air Capital of the World. NIAR laboratories include
Additive Manufacturing, Advanced Coatings, Advanced Manufacturing, Aging Aircraft,
Ballistics/Impact Dynamics, CAD/CAM, Composites/Advanced Materials, Crash Dynamics,
Environmental/ Electromagnetic Test, Full-scale Structural Test, Nondestructive Test,
Reverse Engineering, Robotics/Automation, Virtual Engineering, eXtended Reality and
the Walter H. Beech Wind Tunnel.