2024 Archive : US Government ISR Aircraft Interior

Project Details

Fabric 1

Multi Layer Quilted Thermal Acoustical Insulation Material
Producer/Manufacturer: US Berry Compliant Supplier
Primary Use: Main Fabric

Fabric 2

Hook & Loop Fastener Tape
Producer/Manufacturer: MMI Textiles
Primary Use: Webbing/Narrow Fabric

Engineer Name 1
Glenn Aust

Engineer Company 1
Ehmke Manufacturing Company, Inc.

Design Name
Steven Aust

Design Company
Ehmke Manufacturing Company, Inc.

Fabrication Name
Bob Rosania

Fabrication Company
Ehmke Manufacturing Company, Inc.

Project Manager Name
Greg Nichols

Project Manager Company
Ehmke Manufacturing Company, Inc.

Installation Company
Ehmke Manufacturing Company, Inc.

Please describe the project specifications

2024 ATA International Achievement Awards
Project Entry
2024

Project: Intelligence, Surveillance, Reconnaissance Aircraft Interior Beechcraft B200 Series Fixed Wing Prop Plane

Project Description:

The U.S. Military & our Allies utilizes an array of multi-purpose aircraft to effectively manage the modern-day battlefield. None is more versatile than the Becraft King Air B200 & B300 series multi-role fixed wing prop plane. The Beechcraft King Air B200 is an American aircraft serves multiple missions; including, multi-scan weather radar forecast, short distance personnel transport and Various Government Agencies intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR) roles. To perform their special missions, the aircraft utilizes sophisticated (and expensive) advanced optics, multi-mode sensors and navigational equipment that is housed within the aircraft. The equipment is highly complex and require extensive service & maintenance to function properly. The U.S Military calls on Maintenance, Repair and Overhaul (MRO) facilities to properly maintain their investment.

The requirement set forth by our customer required a Berry-Compliant, engineered, soft interior solution that was design with tight tolerances within a restricted space. Most importantly, the materials had to protect the interior equipment & personnel from the internal environmental conditions, extreme temperature fluctuations and could not contribute to the degradation of the aircraft highly sensitive equipment.

Project Complexity:

Our Company was called upon to partner with a MRO facility to design, fabricate and install a highly flexible soft-interior on the Beechcraft B200 Series Fixed Wing aircraft. The engineered interior had to meet the environmental performance criteria to protect and maintain the ISR equipment installed in the cabin. The ultimate design of the thermal acoustical blankets included intricate cutouts, complex angle calculations, and numerous installation challenges. Due to the classified nature of equipment, our company often worked in shielded our blackout conditions during the installation phase. The installation also included creating an interior manual detailing every aspect of the material & design of each blanket.

Project Results:

Once again, our Company completed the task below budget and ahead of schedule. Our Company’s “Away Team” creates an on-site, temporary sewing shop to custom fit and/or modify the interior blankets to fit perfectly in the cabin & cockpit of the aircraft. Our company originally won this contract based on previous successful interior fabrication & installation conducted on the current Government fleet of B350 King Air ISR fixed wing aircraft.

PLEASE NOTE: Due to the US Government Top Secret classification of the project, our company can not provide detailed photos of the ISR equipment installed or the interior blankets of the aircraft.

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