When the Saab Gripen E prototype took to the air for the first time last week it became the eighth aircraft type equipped with Meggitt wheels or brakes to make its maiden flight since the start of 2016. The Gripen achievement followed the first flight of the Irkut MC-21-300 at the end of May, and other recent Meggitt-equipped first flights have included those by the Boeing/Saab T-X, Bombardier Global 7000, Gulfstream G600 and Textron Scorpion.
Since acquiring Goodyear and Dunlop Aerospace, UK-headquartered Meggitt (Chalet 114) has inherited a long pedigree in providing wheels and braking systems to the aerospace industry, including notable “firsts” such as differential braking systems and carbon brakes. Meggitt wheels and brakes are on more than 160 platforms, accounting for about 34,000 aircraft around the world. Each year they perform 15 million landings.
Meggitt has continued its tradition of innovation through the Ebrake, which combines brake-by-wire technology with an electro-mechanical braking system. The world’s first all-electric brake for commercial aircraft was selected by Bombardier to equip the C Series airliners.
Away from the world of wheels, Meggitt supplies many advanced systems and components to the aerospace industry. Announced at the Paris Air Show is a contract to provide integrated standby flight displays to the Boeing 777X program. Introduced in 1995 as a back-up to digital displays, Meggitt’s ISFDs have been provided for more than 40 aircraft programs. The latest contract adds to the EPAS (emergency passenger assist system), flight lock actuators and cargo smoke detection system that Meggitt is already providing for the 777X.