Materials of the future need grasping now

MANY parameters have to be considered in the application of new materials in aircraft design and today, perhaps, the economic situation is such as to make it even more important that designers should seek out the economic benefits to be derived from applying advanced materials. In terms of the commercial aircraft market there may be seen to be a reluctance on the part of manufacturers to whole heartedly embrace the new materials but, in the final analysis, technological superiority will thin out the wood and expose the very worthwhile trees.