Boeing Attempting to Develop Artificial Pieces of Plastic Ice for Plane Testing
Boeing
Ice forming on a plane’s fuselage is a common issue, however plane testing to simulate freezing temperatures at 30,000 feet is not a simple task.
According to AeroPatent, Boeing is looking into the possibility of developing artificial pieces of plastic ice to make testing its aircraft a more trouble-free process.
The patent application details how Boeing is interested in utilizing the fake ice in order to simulate real ice building up on the flaps, wings, and parts of a plane’s turbine engine.
Perhaps the neatest thing about Boeing’s new plane testing idea is the fact that the artificial ice will be 3D-printed, designed to show how ice can affect aircraft flight characteristics.
Of course, by using plastic to act as real ice, plane testing can be done just about anywhere, meaning freezing temperatures are not necessary.
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