Tactair Fluid Controls has partnered with Artemis Racing to develop the hydraulic control systems for the team’s America’s Cup-class foiling AC catamaran. The New York-based company’s primary products are aircraft undercarriage controls for nose wheel steering, landing gear extension and retraction and hydromechanical brakes.
“With a solid wingsail and hydrofoils, the AC cats really blur the line between aircraft and watercraft, since the boats lift and sail above the water–effectively flying,” said team designer and sailing legend Loick Peyron. He will be speaking about Artemis Racing’s America’s Cup campaign and AC class development here at the show on Wednesday at 10:30 a.m. in Hall 3 Stand A117. Peyron joined the Swedish team during the 34th America’s Cup campaign and continues in his role as a member of the design group.
Among Tactair’s more current products are the nose wheel extension and retraction on the new Mitsubishi Regional Jet and valves for nose wheels on the Bombardier Global 6000 business jet. It is also providing master brake cylinders for the new Pilatus PC-24 business jet.
The company is making significant investments in developing its products to be part of the move towards more electrically powered aircraft, with a particular emphasis on wheels and brakes. “What makes us different is that we are large enough to have the resources to do the job, but small enough to be agile,” Tactair president Michael Yates told AIN. Around 40 of the privately owned company’s 300 employees are engineers.