Plane

A team of scientists, including some from the University of Sheffield, have trialled a bomb-proof lining technology on an aircraft at Cotswolds Airport in the UK.

Named Fly-Bag, the bomb-proof lining was evaluated through a series of controlled explosions in the luggage hold of unused aircraft, near Cirencester.

Fly-Bag lines an aircraft luggage hold with multiple layers of fabrics and composites to manage the impact of bomb blasts. As part of the trial, the team evaluated the capabilities of the technology to contain the force of an explosion during a flight, while reducing risk to the aircraft and passengers.

University of Sheffield Department of Civil and Structural Engineering blast and impact research group head Andy Tyas said: "Key to the concept is that the lining is flexible and this adds to its resilience when containing the explosive force and any fragments produced.

"The lining is flexible and this adds to its resilience when containing the explosive force and any fragments produced."

"This helps to ensure that the Fly-Bag acts as a membrane rather than as a rigid-walled container which might shatter on impact."

Fly-Bag prototypes have been tested at Sheffield’s blast-testing laboratory. The latest trials are part of an effort to demonstrate the concept in real-time.

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The technology can also be used in cabin holds to tackle potential threats to passengers.

The Fly Bag project consortium includes University of Sheffield’s spin-out company Blastech, as well as partners from Greece, Spain, Italy, Germany, Sweden and the Netherlands.

Image: A controlled aircraft explosion without using Fly-Bag in the hold. Photo: courtesy of The University of Sheffield.