Trelleborg is helping the e-Go light aircraft get off the ground.
The revolutionary new e-Go is truly an aircraft for the future. It’s small, light, fuel-efficient and eye-catching and will handle like a fighter plane. Currently under development in the UK, it is expected to go into production by the end of 2012.
“We are in the business of flying for fun,” says Tony Bishop, the Cambridge-based company’s CEO. “When ultralight aircraft were deregulated in the UK we set about seeing what kind of plane we could create. Much to the surprise of the regulators we came up with a fully enclosed, highly streamlined, high-performance single-seat aircraft.”
The aircraft, with its design, feel and attention to detail, is aimed at people who, says Bishop, seek to “buy experiences” – the kind who are in the market for “a powerboat, a Porsche or a very sexy-looking airplane.”
The design of the e-Go is essentially complete. The company is now focusing on building the aircraft. Trelleborg is providing its EP678 tooling block, which is being used for making the patterns for the aircraft’s composite components.
“We require accurately machined patterns with temperature stability as we have to be able to make the composite components quickly, efficiently and with an excellent finish,” says Bishop. “Trelleborg’s epoxy block is ideal for this, and we are really happy with the results. Thanks to global support from companies such as Trelleborg, we are on track to make our dream aircraft a reality.”
Trelleborg supplies tooling blocks to Formula 1 and other motorsport manufacturers, as well as players in the marine- and aerospace sectors.
“One of our main targets is to grow our presence in the aerospace market, so the e-Go project is an excellent fit for us,” says Chris Mellings, Manager of the tooling block’s Sales Group at Trelleborg. “It’s great to be involved in this exciting project right from the beginning, and we are really looking forward to seeing e-Go fly.”
Trelleborg Tooling Block
The Trelleborg EP678 tooling block is made up of epoxy resin, hollow glass microspheres and curing agents. Produced by Trelleborg Offshore and sold and marketed by its business development arm, Advanced Engineering Materials, the tooling block comes in sheets that are glued together with a Trelleborg bond adhesive. The block is then machined to the shape required, giving advantages in cost, weight, stability and predictability.
For more information visit www.trelleborg.com.
Read: Flying High
Filed Under: Aerospace + defense