F-16 fighter pilots alerting the tower that they're "coming in hot" convey more than one meaning. Not only are they making a fast approach-and-land, but the speeds they'll be landing at will produce temperatures in the braking components at the wheels that can potentially rupture the tires, or stay so hot that it may cause the fuel to ignite during refueling on quick turnaround missions. Research of these braking temperatures will be assisted with a sensor system under development at the Department of Energy's Pacific Northwest National Laboratory in Richland, WA. The prototype system will permit ground crews to measure the temperature of an F-16's brakes as it lands. The information can then be conveyed to pilot and ground crew if temperatures approach 1,800°F, which is considered "hot brake emergency" territory. A sensor that can detect temperatures up to 2,000°F with an RF tag will be inserted into an existing wear pin, a component which usually monitors brake pad wear. As the plane lands, ground crews will use a hand-held wireless device, called an interrogator, to send an activation signal to the RF tag. Switched on, the sensor takes a reading and sends the data back to the interrogator. A single interrogator can be used to gather data from more than one RF tag simultaneously. For more information: Circle 400 - Pacific Northwest National Laboratory, or connect directly to their website via the Online Reader Service Program at http://www.1rs.com/011df-400

Another hot technology that's taking wing is a paper-thin, flexible sheet material that will be used in the aerospace industry as a flame barrier and containment system. Developed by 3M Corp., St. Paul, MN, the Nextel 312 Flame Stopping Dot Paper has survived the FAA's 15 minute, 2000°F firewall test without flame penetration (testing in accordance with FAA AC2O-135). Testing also showed that the use of Dot Paper in an aircraft's fuselage could add as much as five minutes of escape time from a burning aircraft, while ensuring low heat transfer to the cabin from external heat sources. The material's unique feature is the dots, which help maintain the paper's integrity and flexibility even after its organic binders burn off. The ceramic textile material is a lightweight 2.3 oz per yard and, being ceramic, it won't melt, shrink, or produce smoke or gases when exposed to fire. Other areas in an aircraft that can use Nextel FSDP for protection would be galleys, cockpits, cargo bays, ducting, gaskets and seals, insulators and fire-resistant storage bays. Besides potential applications in commercial and industrial firewalls, firedoors and furnaces, 3M also anticipates other industries, from automotive and construction to processing facilities and telecommunications, will find use for the Dot Paper. For more information: Circle 401 - 3M, or connect directly to their website via the Online Reader Service Program at http://www.1rs.com/011df-401.