Wichita State aviation researchers win $23.5 million Air Force contract

A new aviation research lab at Wichita State University will take the lead on a program that has been awarded a $23.5 million Air Force contract. The National Institute for Aviation Research at WSU won the contract for fleet sustainment, the university said in a news release. The new Advanced Technologies Lab for Aerospace Systems at NIAR will lead the research program, which is “aimed at developing a certification framework for enabling advanced materials and structural concepts for automated manufacturing.” “This program will expand the framework for developing innovative in-service inspection technologies for advanced structures and bonded joints, validating high-fidelity composite repair analysis techniques, and assessing aging composite structures for life extension and structural enhancements,” WSU said in the release.