An aircraft, be it commercial or military, has to be light yet very, very strong to survive headwinds of varied kinds. With the industry hitting crosswinds arising from issues relating to design and metal fatigue, maintenance, and increasing fuel costs, staying competitive is necessary.

One way of going about it is to switch to a metal that's lighter, stronger, and less demanding on maintenance. Aluminium casting as an alternative has found acceptance where strength and weight matter, be it in the fuselage, undercarriage, or the engine and its parts.