FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
April 12, 2006
For more information contact:

Eugene (Gene) Watson, Program Manager
Wyoming SBIR/STTR Initiative
Phone: 307-742-7162, 307-760-0456 cell

Kennon Aircraft Covers
Ronald J. Kensey, Mark Weitz
Sheridan, Wyoming
Phone: 307-674-6498

Sheridan firm wins grant to develop insulation for Navy aircraft

CHEYENNE - Sheridan's Kennon Aircraft Covers could figure heavily into the future of the V-22 Osprey, a tilt-rotor naval plane flown by the Marines that takes off and lands vertically and flies horizontally, thanks to a grant the firm received this week.

Kennon Aircraft Covers was awarded a $150,000 Phase I Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Grant through the U.S. Navy to develop a new insulation system for the Osprey Tuesday. According to Kennon President Ron Kensey, unlike commercial aircrafts, which are paneled and insulated to regulate noise and temperature, the V-22s use soft blankets which insulate but still allow access to aircraft internal parts. Current blankets are akin to quilted piano blankets, hooked to studs which are glued to the aircraft frame. The studs are difficult to install, and can fail, causing the blanket to fall off in use.

Kensey's company plans to use a unibody design to insulate the aircraft. Also, through a Phase I Option that was awarded, Kennon will attempt to incorporate anti-ballistic properties into the insulation system. This would help shield the occupants in the aircraft from bullets and flying debris.

Kennon currently equips Chinook, Blackhawk and Apache helicopters with external coverings, and sunshields for cockpits.

The anti-ballistic insulating system for the Navy's V-22 Osprey aircraft has the potential of becoming the state-of-the-art design for all troop carrying aircraft. It could replace the quilted blanket system with something that will save lives Kensey said.

The Sheridan firm's plan to aid the Navy in aircraft design originally took off in January when the Wyoming Small Business Innovation Research/Small Business Technology Transfer Initiative (WSSI) awarded a $5,000 grant to Kennon Aircraft Covers under the Phase 0 Program to prepare a first rate, winning proposal.

The Phase 0 award also allowed staff from Kennon to visit the Patuxent River Naval Air Station in Maryland to talk with the author of the grant request, a trip that proved essential in winning the Phase I grant. The Wyoming Business Council funds the Phase 0 program.

"The phase 0 grant of $5,000 that we received from the Wyoming Business Council enabled us to do a first-class job on our proposal to the Navy. We put together a great team that includes the University of Wyoming Mechanical Engineering Department," said Kensey.

"The SBIR helps small business compete on the same level as larger businesses. This grant enables Kennon to build and equip a team and develop a process to successfully deliver a product that will enhance the nation's defense," Kensey said. "This team, once in place, will help propel innovation and product development well beyond this one project. That is the lasting benefit from receiving an SBIR grant.

The federal Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) and Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) programs provide more than $2 billion annually in Research and Development(R&D) grants and contracts to qualified small businesses. Historically, Wyoming companies, like other rural states, have not won many SBIR awards. However, since instituting the WSSI and Phase 0 program, Wyoming companies have received over $30 million in SBIR funding.

"The SBIR Phase 0 Program helps Wyoming companies develop competitive proposals for the federal SBIR and Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) programs. The SBIR Phase 0 program is a project of the Wyoming SBIR/STTR Initiative (WSSI). The WSSI initiative is funded by the Wyoming Business Council and gives out $120,000 in Phase 0 grants each year," said Gene Watson, the WSSI Program Manager.

Eleven federal agencies are required by law to provide these funds by setting aside 2.5 percent of their annual extra-mural R&D budgets for use exclusively by U.S. small businesses for new product R&D. Hence, these programs provide a unique source of start-up and seed capital for small businesses to develop new innovative product concepts.

The mission of the Wyoming Business Council is to facilitate the economic growth of Wyoming. For more information, please visit the Web site at www.wyomingbusiness.org.

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