Goodrich Corporation has unveiled the world's largest aircraft landing gear test facility at its site in Oakville, Ontario, Canada.
Goodrich, one of the world's largest suppliers of landing systems for commercial and military aircraft, is providing the body and wing landing gear for the Airbus A380 -- the world's largest commercial airliner. The Oakville test facility was built to accommodate the A380 landing gear.
The facility encompasses 2,100 square meters (22,604 square feet) of floor space. It houses a Super Rig for structural testing which includes strength and fatigue testing of the A380 body and wing landing gears. The test rig rests in a cavity 55 meters long (180.5 feet) and stands approximately 8 meters high (26 feet). In addition to the Super Rig, the facility accommodates rigs for endurance testing.
Officials from Airbus and the Canadian government joined Goodrich employees for today's unveiling. Addressing the audience, Marshall Larsen, Goodrich Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer said, "Today's event is a very proud moment for all of us at Goodrich, and marks another milestone in the development of our relationship with Airbus. When the A380 takes off for its first flight, it will do so with a myriad of Goodrich products on board, from landing gear to the electric power system, air data system, flight controls, evacuation slides, and cargo system, as well as lighting, seating and several structural components."
Allan McArtor, Chairman, Airbus North America, said, "This event today is symbolic of the global inter-connectivity of our industry. A European airplane manufacturer awards an American aerospace company a contract to build landing gear tested and assembled in Canada for an airplane that will be sold to airlines around the world and operated all over the planet."
Goodrich's design and production of the A380's landing gear systems is truly a global effort. Components for the landing gear system are being made by Goodrich Landing Gear facilities in Cleveland, Ohio; Tullahoma, Tennessee; Oakville, Ontario; and Krosno, Poland. Final gear integration occurs at the Goodrich facility in Toulouse, France before delivery to Airbus' final assembly line.
Goodrich Corporation, a Fortune 500 company, is a leading global supplier of systems and services to the aerospace and defense industry. If there's an aircraft in the sky -- we're on it. Goodrich technology is involved in making aircraft fly ... helping them land ... and keeping them safe. Serving a global customer base with significant worldwide manufacturing and service facilities, Goodrich is one of the largest aerospace companies in the world.
http://www.goodrich.com
Posted 6th April 2005
