Abstract: A system for the nondestructive evaluation of aircraft comprising a plurality of positional transmitters forming a perimeter around a test airplane and an inspection station within the perimeter. The inspection station includes a moveable cart, a nondestructive testing device coupled the cart, and a computer coupled to the cart and nondestructive testing device. The computer configured to receive aircraft positional data from positional receivers mounted on an aircraft and overlay a model of the aircraft on the received aircraft positional data to determine a coordinate system for the aircraft. The computer is further operable to determine the location of the cart from data received from onboard positional receivers, the location of the cart referenced to the coordinate system for the aircraft.

Abstract: The present invention provides methods and materials for use in applying a coating on a surface of a magnesium component. The method includes the steps of: accelerating a coating powder to a velocity of between about 500 to about 1200 meters/second, wherein the coating powder comprises a material selected from the group consisting of aluminum, aluminum alloys, titanium, titanium alloys, and composites; directing the coating powder through a convergent-divergent nozzle onto the surface of the magnesium component; and forming a coating on the surface of the magnesium component so as to substantially cover the surface of the magnesium component. The coating thickness may be between approximately 0.1 to approximately 1.0 mm.

Abstract: An inspection device for performing nondestructive testing on a test subject includes a manually controlled inspection cart. The inspection device also includes a nondestructive testing platform and a computer coupled to the inspection cart. The computer is operable to control the movement of the nondestructive testing device when the inspection device is within a predetermined distance from the test subject.

Abstract: The present invention provides a chromium and active elements modified platinum aluminide coating that may be used on a surface of a gas turbine engine component such as a turbine blade. The coating may be used as a protective coating that impedes the progress of corrosion, oxidation, and sulfidation in superalloy materials that comprise the substrate of the turbine blade. Additionally, the coating may be used as a bond coat onto which a thermal barrier coating is deposited. The presence of active elements as well as chromium and platinum provides improved corrosion, oxidation, and sulfidation resistance. The coating is applied using an electron beam physical vapor deposition. The coating is applied alternatively using selected sequential diffusion processing steps involving chromium, platinum and aluminum.

Abstract: An apparatus for inspecting a turbine blade of an aircraft engine may include a shaft having a proximate end and a distal end, an attachment device coupled to the distal end of the shaft and capable of being attached to a strut of the aircraft engine and an engagement device, coupled to the attachment device, capable of moving away from the attachment device and attaching to a trailing edge of the turbine blade. The apparatus may also include a probe moveably coupled to the engagement device and capable of moving along a leading edge of the turbine blade to detect a surface anomaly of the turbine blade and a control device for controlling the movement of the probe along the leading edge of the turbine engine in response to user manipulation.