Boeing 360

Built in 1987, the Boeing Model 360 served as both a technology demonstrator and a new model for manufacturing methodology. A major effort streamlined the helicopter to reduce drag and increase speed. It was designed with high-strength, lightweight composite materials that make up almost all of the airframe's structure and many dynamic components. The fuselage skeleton is covered with load-bearing Kevlar and Nomex honeycomb skin and crown panels that eliminate corrosion and reduce airframe empty weight by approximately 25 percent. Compared with metal construction, the rotor hubs have 60 percent fewer parts, and the airframe has 83 percent fewer fasteners. The Model 360 reached a maximum forward speed of 246 mph, just short of setting a new world record for helicopters.

Pennsylvania · United States