The Aging Aircraft Laboratory focuses on investigations into the affects of age on small passenger, commercial and military aircraft. Investigations include the Boeing 737, B-52 and KC-135 tanker; Cessna 402 and 402C, Piper Navajo and Beechcraft Starship.

In the forensic investigation, the Aging Aircraft Lab technicians detect problems, such as cracks or corrosion, with specific parts of the aircraft. The aircraft first undergoes a visual inspection and eventually is dissembled to allow for a more thorough investigation. The forensic investigation is supported by an engineering analysis, which allows the lab to determine what areas of the plane may fail and then set up inspections to prevent failure.

This process allow owners and operators to learn more about their aircraft and about how to make them operate safely over longer periods of time.

Representative projects
	Airworthiness Evaluation of Aging Small Airplanes Teardown Evaluation of Two T-34 Wings B-52 Assemblies Teardown and Inspection Aging of Composite Aircraft Structures: Decommissioned Boeing 737 Tail Teardown and Inspection of F-16 Static Test Article C-5A Component Disassembly and Inspection B-52 Wing Structural Teardown and Inspection Raytheon Starship Teardown and Inspection
facilities & equipment
	21-cubic ft. dry blast paint stripping booth for removal of organic coatings Magnaflux L-10 coil Parker Research AC/DC yoke Liquid penetrant inspection system Magneto optic imaging (MOI) system Staveley workstation Nortec 2000S eddy scope Sonic 1200 ultrasonic unit Meiji Inc 7-45x optical microscope Hirox Co. 50-300x optical microscope Rene Co. digital optical micromete Joel scanning electron microscope Chemical coating removal facility
downloads & links
Photos Brochure Information Sheet Video
contacts
Tim Hickey, Director