For release: August 12, 1997
Keith Henry
NASA Langley Research Center
Phone: 757-864-6120
Meghan Woodcock
NASA Langley Research Center
Phone: 757-864-3296
Dave Eastman
The Boeing Company
Phone: 562-496-5132
RELEASE NO. 97-096
Note to Editors:
August 13 event in California:
Boeing Names New Airplane Wing Composites Development
Center
Boeing is naming a revolutionary new airplane wing construction
center after a NASA Langley retiree whose work led to its
development. The new center will house the 75-foot long Advanced
Stitching Machine that sews together fabric panels at a rate of
3200 stitches per minute to create the "preform" of a composite
wing. The machine, built under the NASA Advanced Composites
Technology (ACT) program, is an important part of the
stitched/resin film infusion process. This new composite wing
manufacturing process is expected to change the way aircraft wings
are constructed in the near future.
A demonstration of the stitching machine will take place
Wednesday, Aug. 13 at the Boeing Stitched Composites Development
Center, Bldg. 46, 5301 Bolsa Ave., Huntington Beach, CA.
Registration lasts from 9 to 9:30 a.m. in the lobby of Bldg.
14.
NASA Langley retiree John Davis, former head of the ACT program,
and Doug Dwoyer, Director for Research and Technology Group, will
be among the featured
speakers to present an overview of NASA's ACT program. Grace
Robertson, Vice President-General Manager of Advanced Transport
Aircraft Systems and Gerry Janicki, Director of Assessment,
Planning and Operations at Boeing, will provide remarks on the
stitching facility. Allen Penton, Manager for the ACT Wing Program
at Boeing will also give a short presentation on NASA's Advanced
Stitching Machine.
Boeing will then officially dedicate the composites development
center to NASA Langley retiree Marvin B. Dow. Dow spearheaded the
development of the stitching machine. He is the first NASA employee
to be honored in the naming of a corporate facility. Mr. Dow
currently serves NASA Langley as a Distinguished Research
Associate.
Please contact Dave Eastman at 562-496-5132 for more
information on the demonstration in California.
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text-only version of this release | 
