Carbon fiber wing skins (big ones)

[Bradley Walker]

My latest design project.

V-22 Wing Skin transport equipment.  The unit you see is for an upper and lower skin, and the pictures were taken at the test fit.  Should be pretty after powder coating.

[Allan Perret]

Cool Brad
Is it put on a flat trailer for highway transport ?

[Bill Heher]

So I guess they make the external skins at one plant and transport them to the final assy point to have the internal structure added to build the wing  / spar assy?

Pretty amazing stuff, that would be like having someone ship you fully molded wing skins, you add all the internal structure made bt various other parties, add powerplant packages, mate it to a fuse / tail assy, add all the extras, -- and then Fly Around In It!!  Taking off like a chopper and the transitioning to 200+ mph, Igor amd Bell are smiling.

Saw a V-22 do a take-off / climb out and pattern circuit to touch and stop in Alburquerke a few months ago - Unbelievable sound and sight to behold.

[Bradley Walker]

Cool Brad
Is it put on a flat trailer for highway transport ?

Closed trailer.

The skinsa re made in Ft Worth and are transported to Amarillo for assembly.

[Doug Moon]

I saw a v-22 making test flights a LONG time ago in Grand Prairie.  I was working in a bank, stand alone 2 story building kind of out by itself, fixing some office furniture.  And the windows started shaking and the sound was a very low rumble.  Then it got louder and louder, me and my partner looked around as we were nervous but the ladies in the office kept on working like nothing was happening.  Then, WHAM!!!  It passed over head!  It was really loud, and awesome. I still didnt know what it was as we were inside.  Then I heard an office worker mumble something about "Those dam* guys and their big helicopter plane..&@$%!!!"  I was like woah an Osprey in flight, NO WAY!! Me and my co-worker were sad we missed it.  The lady told us dont worry they will be back.  Sure enough 30 minutes later here it comes.  We took a quick stroll outside and here comes one right over the bank building.  There was no way it was a inch over 500'.  That thing was right on top of us and those blades were really pounding. 

You see that bank building is out by itself near the end of the Grand Prairie test sight, to the north.  If the wind is in the right direction they get pounded on take off all day long.  They were testing it pretty much all day.  We must have seen it in 5 times.  We went out a watched EVERY time but the first one we missed.  When it would come over us they were in full forward flight mode.  It was really cool to see it in person with those monster blades.