WHAT ’ S HAPPENING IN YOUR REGION ?
EXPLORING THE FUTURE OF AEROSPACE
BY : ROBB ZERR Senior Managing Director , Washington State Department of Commerce
It ’ s hard to believe that it ’ s been a little more than a century since two brothers took to the skies over Kitty Hawk to show that human-powered flight was possible . Thirteen years later , a young timber baron , Bill Boeing , set up shop on Seattle ’ s Lake Union , determined to build amazing airplanes that were bigger , faster and far better than anything that had come before .
Today , that entrepreneurial spirit and passion for innovation is taking Washington ’ s aerospace leaders in new directions . Yes , commercial and civilian aircraft are still an essential part of our past and future . But advances in design , propulsion , materials and systems are taking air and space travel to places that neither the Wright Brothers nor Bill Boeing could have ever imagined .
None of this would be possible if it weren ’ t for the sophisticated supply chain that sprang up over time in Washington State . At first , these companies focused on meeting Boeing ’ s insatiable appetite for structures and parts to build some of the world ’ s most successful and cutting-edge aircraft – from the Model 80 to the 777X . Over the years , these 1,300 companies expanded their reach to serve every major airline in the world and every aircraft manufacturer .
NEW IDEAS , NEW DIRECTIONS
As the state explores new ideas in aviation and space , Washington companies have once again risen to the challenge , pioneering next-generation rockets , electric motors , battery-powered aircraft , autonomous platforms , air mobility and new frontiers in space exploration . The founders of many of these companies grew up in multi-generational families of aerospace engineers , designers and manufacturers . Their passion , vision , and dedication inspire a new generation of aerospace workers who are making the impossible possible in labs and factories across the state .
An excellent example is the partnership between magniX and Eviation . Eviation ’ s new electric aircraft , Alice , is powered by two magniX 640 kW motors , giving the aircraft a top speed of 250 knots and a range of 440 nautical miles . The plane serves as a proving ground for technologies that will soon lead to larger commercial aircraft that will reduce our carbon footprint while creating new efficiencies . Researchers are also making inroads in the use of hydrogen and alternative aviation fuels . United Airlines recently conducted its first passenger flight using 100 % sustainable alternative fuel ( SAF ) made from feedstock .
114 NORTHWEST AEROSPACE NEWS
PNAA ADVANCE / 2022