The US Navy has just revealed plans for a test flight with a Boeing V-22 Osprey with crucial 3D printed parts. The test has been organized by the Naval Air Systems Command (NavAir), and will take place in June. The NavAir group, which is planning to start working with stainless steel powders later this month, is mostly focused on developing industry standards for 3D printed parts.
According to Elizabeth McMichael, leader of the NavAir AM and Digital Thread Integrated Product Team (IPT), NavAir wanted to take a flight-critical 3D printed part into the air three years after development started. As she revealed, the planned 3D printed titanium part for the Boeing V-22 Osprey was completed in about half of that time.