3D打印和航空的未来

Today is National Aviation Day and progress is ongoing in the next evolution of air mobility – all thanks to emerging 3D printing technology.

This image of a full-scale model of Langley Aerodrome No. 8 is being constructed at NASA’s Langley Research Center. The LA-8 model will to contribute to the agency’s Urban Air Mobility (UAM) initiative. “It’s definitely a new world with 3-D printing,” said engineering technician Sam James, pictured here. “It’s the future without a doubt.”

About 80 percent of the model is built using 3D printers on center using nylon and polycarbonate, which allows engineers to change the wings, the fuselage and add other sections of the model such as propellers and computer hardware rapidly.

Since 1939, August 19 has been celebrated as National Aviation Day, the legacy of a presidential proclamation first made by Franklin D. Roosevelt to celebrate the birthday of civil aviation pioneer Orville Wright. At NASA, aeronautics is not only part of our name, it is an integral part of our mission. And, this year we’re celebrating National Aviation Day on social media by highlighting some of unique and surprising ways our aeronautics research impacts your daily life. From innovative video games that help those with ADHD to using wind tunnels to test automobiles, ships and wheelchairs, explore all the ways NASA is with you when you fly–and beyond–by following us on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram.

Image Credit: NASA/David C. Bowman

今天是国家航空日，由于3D打印技术的出现，未来的空中交通发展也在继续。

美国国家航空和宇宙航行局正在兰利研究中心建造一个全尺寸的兰利8号机场模型。LA-8模型将有助于该机构的城市空中交通(UAM)倡议。“这绝对是一个3D打印的新世界，”工程技术人员Sam James说。“毫无疑问，这就是未来。”

80%的模型使用在研究中心以尼龙和聚碳酸酯作为原料的3D打印机，这使得工程师可以快速改变机翼、机身，并添加模型的其他部分，如螺旋桨和计算机硬件。

公元1939年，8月19日被定为国家航空日，这是富兰克林·d·罗斯福为了庆祝民用航空先驱奥维尔·莱特的生日而首次发表的总统宣言的遗产。在NASA，航空学不仅是我们名字的一部分，也是我们使命的一部分。今年，我们在社交媒体上庆祝国家航空日，重点介绍了航空研究对你日常生活的一些独特而令人惊讶的影响。从帮助多动症患者的创新视频游戏，到使用风洞测试汽车、轮船和轮椅，通过Twitter、Facebook和Instagram关注我们，探索NASA在你飞行时和你在一起的所有方式。

影像来源：NASA/David C. Bowman