Ejector seat component production increases

Citation

(2000), "Ejector seat component production increases", Aircraft Engineering and Aerospace Technology, Vol. 72 No. 2. https://doi.org/10.1108/aeat.2000.12772bab.023

Ejector seat component production increases

Ejector seat component production increases

Keywords: Geo. Kingsbury, Langford Lodge, Turning, Ejection seats

Langford Lodge Engineering in Crumlin, Northern Ireland, a leading supplier to the aerospace industry, has taken delivery of a second Index G200 lathe from Geo. Kingsbury to cope with increased demand for ever more complex cartridge cases for Martin Baker ejector seats.

Both G200s are mill-turning centres with bar magazines devoted to one-hit machining to very tight tolerances of particularly complicated cartridge case variants in bronze, stainless steel and titanium. In addition to turning, operations include angled cross-hole drilling and exacting milling operations on the ends of the components.

Five other Index lathes in the main factory are used to machine standard brass cartridge cases. A further four G300 mill-turning centres from the same German manufacturer have more recently been installed in a new extension on the Crumlin site to produce kits of mainly stainless steel components for delivery directly to TRW Lucas Aerospace driveshaft assembly lines in Wolverhampton.