African Pilot May 2009 - Global Composite Solutions Launch - By Athol Franz

On Thursday 19 March the long awaited opening of Global Composite Solutions’ new office and manufacturing facility at Wonderboom National Airport took place. This glittering function was attended by more than two hundred people from many different aviation disciplines.

Apart from the official opening of Errol van Rensburg’s magnificent new building, the highlight of the evening was the unveiling of Glen Dell’s aerobatic Edge 540 aircraft which has been extensively modified by Global Composite Solutions in preparation for the 2009 Red Bull racing season. This was an excellent opportunity to meet the Red Bull South African promotional team and hear Glen talk about his aspirations for the 2009 series. In 2006 Global Composite Solutions was established as an aeronautical manufacturing company, specializing in the design, development and manufacture of the Slick aircraft as well as composite components using modern materials.

With staff experience spanning more than 60 years in composite materials, GCS has the ability to provide product development, product research, aeronautical design, development engineering, prototype and manufacture, composite kit aircraft assembly as well as maintenance and repair of composite aeronautical components. GCS is certified with the SA Civil Aviation Authority as an aircraft manufacturing and processing organization.

The new 3200 square metre facility which includes three hangars with office space has recently been completed. The new structure was constructed right next to the original facilities, which will now be used for composite materials lay-up work. Some of the projects which are currently managed by GCS are:

- The complete fabrication of all the parts required to build the slick 360 aerobatic aircraft of which seven are already flying in South Africa and one in the USA
- GCS offers a full turnkey solution for composite aeronautical components and aircraft. The company has extensive prototyping experience and its development model is based on that of the Lockheed Martin Skunk Works concept. Prototype expertise allows for the design, development and manufacture of mouldless structures, plugs and moulds. This leads to prototype manufacture, flight testing and evaluation.
- The company has comprehensive composite production processes in place, which include wet lay-up lamination, vacuum compaction, pre-preg lamination, LPET process and autoclave processing.

Examples of composite projects which have been produced by GCS include:

- Slick Aerobatic Aircraft
- Cargo pods for Beechcraft B200, PAC-750 and the Cessna Caravan
- Air conditioning system
- Cabin components such as seats for the Cessna Caravan
- Structural components
- Dorsal fins, wingtips and fairings
- Kit plane assembly – Thunder Mustang, Seawind and Lancair Legacy

For further information on Global Composite Solutions please contact Errol van Rensburg.