WAFER thin gauges the size of postage stamps are helping keep aircraft flying for longer.
The special monitoring gauges are being fitted to Eurofighter Typhoon components at British Aerospace, Samlesbury.
The gauges are fitted to various parts of the aircraft and will remain attached for throughout their life span of around 25 years. They are used to allow accurate recording and analysis of the stresses being put on an aircraft structure during its life.
"Utilising modern electronics in this way gives us a much more accurate picture than previously," said Jon Evans, who manages the structural health monitoring department.
"With the data these gauges provide we effectively increase the operational life of an aircraft and entire fleets by moving particular aircraft to less demanding roles as their effective life reduces."
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