Helicopter airframes also provide opportunities for composites. In a Franco-German programme a new aircraft is proposed which includes 80% composite; 24% CFRP 42% CFRP honeycomb and 11 % Kevlar honeycomb. Typical design features are:

• Frames and beams of Kevlar 49 carbon laminates.
• Panels of carbon and Kevlar sandwich construction with a Nomex honeycomb core.
• Carbon/ Kevlar sandwich structures for the underfloor for high energy adsorption.
• Landing gear frames of CFRP laminates.
• Carbon sandwich structures for the tail boom for stiffness and strength.
• Vertical and horizontal stabilizers of carbon and Kevlar laminates.