Ultracomp composites replace stainless steel, extend service

Encompassing more than 660,000 square miles of raw wilderness, islands and glaciers, Alaska is a recreational paradise and growing tourist destination. And the best means of traversing this “Last Frontier,” is by plane; frequently the DHC-2 Beaver, which has served the area since the 1940s. TriStar is helping a leading Alaskan air charter company maintain these vintage props and soar with new composite bearing materials.

Vintage design with failing, old-school materials

While production of new Beavers ended decades ago, hundreds of the vintage model are still in service today thanks to innovative materials. Our OEM partner contacted us when the stainless steel bearings of the flight controls (flaps, elevators and rudders), succumbed to corrosion, which demanded expensive, seasonal replacement. The sealed stainless design was unable to withstand the punishing rain, wind, snow and sleet, and had the potential to seize during flight.

UC300 composites extend service, reduce maintenance

TriStar corrected this design flaw by retrofitting the stainless bearings with custom Ultracomp UC300 composites. The composites have excelled through several years of flight tests in all weather conditions. UC300 offers good tolerance against the modified stainless pin, showing no wear on either pin or bearing. No lubrication was ever required during the trials and parts were monitored each year for unusual performance problems. Pilots reported none.

UC300 has helped our OEM partner maintain their vintage Beavers to meet demanding Alaskan charter schedules. And best yet, federal agencies in both the US and Canada have recognized the benefits of composite bearings for all Beavers. Explore some of the latest Ultracomp variations in our new video.

Is Ultracomp the right solution for you? The material also excels as a replacement in rail, construction, agriculture and even food processing applications. Check out any of our technical white papers for details, or Ask an Engineering Expert!