In the fall of 1998, Prof. Sergey Firstov invited me to the Frantcevych Institute for Problems of Materials Science (IPMS) in Kyiv, Ukraine to discuss possible collaborations in the area of advanced metals research. During this visit, a strong mutual interest was evident in a broad range of structural metals technologies, and a quick friendship was established. Countless subsequent emails and a reciprocal visit to the U. S Air Force Research Laboratory by Prof. Firstov and a team of scientists from IPMS ensued to discuss and detail a broad collaboration in the area of structural metals. Two years after the initial visit, a major investment by the U. S. Air Force Office of Scientific Research (AFOSR) was established to pursue the technologies defined by these interactions. The annual reviews of the AFOSR Ukrainian Metals Initiative were held in late May, a most beautiful time in Kyiv when the lilacs are in bright display and the air is scented with the smell of falling blossoms from the chestnut trees that line the major streets and many parks. The sunny days and mild evenings provide a welcome break from winter, and on weekend evenings festive crowds spill onto the Khreshchatyk, Kyiv’s downtown boulevard, to listen to street musicians, watch jugglers and comedians, or simply to celebrate with friends. The annual reviews featured long days of intensive discussion of technical progress, followed in the evenings by the warm hospitality of the Ukrainian hosts.

High Value Manufacturing is the result of the 6th International Conference on Advanced Research in Virtual and Rapid Prototyping, held in Leiria, Portugal, October 2013. It contains current contributions to the field of virtual and rapid prototyping (V&RP) and is also focused on promoting better links between industry and academia. This volume

The major objective of this book was to identify issues related to the introduction of new materials and the effects that advanced materials will have on the durability and technical risk of future civil aircraft throughout their service life. The committee investigated the new materials and structural concepts that are likely to be incorporated into next generation commercial aircraft and the factors influencing application decisions. Based on these predictions, the committee attempted to identify the design, characterization, monitoring, and maintenance issues that are critical for the introduction of advanced materials and structural concepts into future aircraft.

The U.S. air transportation system is very important for our economic well-being and national security. The nation is also the global leader in civil and military aeronautics, a position that needs to be maintained to help assure a strong future for the domestic and international air transportation system. Strong action is needed, however, to ensure that leadership role continues. To that end, the Congress and NASA requested the NRC to undertake a decadal survey of civil aeronautics research and technology (R&T) priorities that would help NASA fulfill its responsibility to preserve U.S. leadership in aeronautics technology. This report presents a set of strategic objectives for the next decade of R&T. It provides a set of high-priority R&T challengesâ€"-characterized by five common themesâ€"-for both NASA and non-NASA researchers, and an analysis of key barriers that must be overcome to reach the strategic objectives. The report also notes the importance of synergies between civil aeronautics R&T objectives and those of national security.