MILITARY AIRCRAFT COVERS
PROTECTIVE COVERS FOR AIRCRAFT
Alongside with the engines air inlets and exhausts, fighter aircrafts canopies (commonly made out of PMMA) are essential parts of the craft and need to be properly protected. For covering those damage-sensitive parts, OTEGO has designed a material to prevent FODs (Foreign Object Debris), weather aggression (UV, sand, snow, ice and humidity) and “crazing effect” on PMMA canopies.
JET FIGHTER AIRCRAFT CANOPY COVER
PMMA CANOPIES CHARACTERISTICS
When not protected, fighter aircraft canopies can be damaged by physical objects (sand storms, ice hail, foreign object impacts) or by harsh environments (humidity and saline environment). Canopy covers made out of PVC are sometime used by default, but are not recommended for such applications. Exposed to high temperature, the plasticizers naturally contained in PVC tarpaulins can migrate and blur the visibility of the canopy by interacting with the PMMA.
That is the reason why the selection of the material in which the cover will be made from, is as essential as the cover itself.
OTEGO CANOPY COVER FABRIC FEATURES :
- Non-abrasive “anti-crazing” properties : our fabric is soft on the inside. It avoids any friction on the canopy and the crazing effect.
- Heat/cold resistant fabric
- UV Resistant fabric
FIGHTER AIRCRAFT INLET & EXHAUST COVER
During storage and maintenance (and even during production) the inlet and exhaust of the fighter engine need to be protected against :
- Corrosion
- FOD (Foreign Object Damage)
Our fabric is especially adapted to this application and features :
- Heat-resistant
- Fire resistant : FAR25.853
- Soft contact : The fabric is not abrasive.
SUM UP
- 2 main applications:
- Canopy cover
- Inlet/exhaust cover
- Strengths of the fabric :
- Heat/cold Resistant
- Fire Resistant (FAR25.853)
- Anti-crazing properties
- OTEGO fabric is approved by Dassault on the Mirage 2000 & Rafale.
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What is crazing effect ?
PMMA windshields & Canopies are subject to what we call the crazing.
The crazing is made of 2 effects :
1. Scratches
Abrasion/friction with an average cover – A poor cover will abrase the surface of the PMMA and damages it. When the canopy or windshield is not covered, external elements such as sand can abrase the surface and create scratches. Those scratches reduce the visibility and comfort of the pilot.
2. Milky effect
If the windshield or canopy is covered with a PVC tarp or a non-neutral coated fabric, it will conduct to a chemical migration.
PVC tarps contain Chlorine and plasticizers that will migrate in the PMMA and this “milky” effect will appear. Also, if the helicopter is not covered during storage, saline humidity can have the same effect.
This milky effect will also decrease the visibility of the pilot.
Without any protection
Protected with our material
