Imagine you're at a party. A really boring party. The kind of party where everyone is talking about their jobs in finance or discussing the latest episode of some overrated TV show. Suddenly, someone comes up to you and says, "Hey, have you ever thought about thermoplastic composites for flight control surfaces?"

At this point, your instinct is probably to feign sudden illness, or pretend you've received a critically important text message, and make a swift exit. But stay with me. This is actually kind of cool.

First, we need to break this down a little. A flight control surface is part of an aircraft, like the wings, rudder, elevators, ailerons, and so forth. These parts control the aircraft's movement in various directions, and they're kind of important, you know, for not crashing and stuff.

Now, these parts can be made from various materials. Traditionally, metal was the go-to option because it's strong and tough - kind of like The Rock. However, it's also heavy, and in the world of aircraft, heavy is a bad word. It's like showing up to a vegan dinner party with a steak.

This is where composites come in. Think of them as the superheroes of materials. A composite is made up of two or more materials which, when combined, have properties that are better than those of the individual components on their own. In other words, they're like the Avengers of materials science.

So what's so special about thermoplastic composites then?

Well, thermoplastics are a type of plastic that becomes moldable above a certain temperature and solidifies upon cooling. Kind of like how chocolate behaves. And if you can mold your material, you can shape it into complex forms, like, you know, aircraft parts.

But that's not all. Thermoplastics also have fantastic fatigue resistance, meaning they can endure repeated stress without weakening. Picture a super-energetic toddler who just keeps running around all day without tiring. That's your thermoplastic.

On top of that, thermoplastics are also excellent at resisting impacts (like bird strikes in aviation), they're recyclable, and they can be welded, which is easier and cheaper than the riveting process used with metals.

Now, when we talk about thermoplastic composites for flight control surfaces, we're talking about a kind of super-material that combines the lightness and strength of composites with the flexibility, recyclability, and durability of thermoplastics.

Joby & GKN Know How to Party

And as we all know, the Jobians are basically playing real-life Tony Stark by inventing all-electric aircraft for ferrying people around. GKN Aerospace, the ace supplier for all things aircraft, and Joby have just swiped right on each other in the business world. Yep, it's a match!

They've come together to sign a deal that is set to last longer than most celebrity marriages. GKN Aerospace will be the proud supplier of thermoplastic flight control surfaces for Joby’s sparkly new electric aircraft.

This monumental moment, which was sealed with a (business) kiss at the Paris Air Show, marks a solid leap towards Joby's dream of having their aircraft whizz around city skylines, offering a snazzy air taxi service. Think Uber, but minus the traffic and with a stunning aerial view.

And with these cutting-edge, thermoplastic control surfaces that are as light, durable, and recyclable as Captain Planet would want them to be, they're a significant step closer to providing us a future where hopping into an air taxi is as normal as getting a latte from Starbucks.

And that, my friend, is why next time you're at a party and someone asks if you know anything about thermoplastic composites for flight control surfaces, you can confidently respond, "You bet I do. Pull up a chair, and let's talk about the future of aviation!"