[Oldexpat]

Up until I retired, I put on many many miles in the tropics and hit a lot of storms, but had confidence in those Boeing’s. When the fly by wire plastic Airbus hit the scene, I never felt comfortable in one of them. In the smaller planes the hydraulics sound like they are going to fail any second and the gear noises really shake the lighter planes. Having flown thru electrical storms near typhoons with static discharges flickering out on those wings..I wonder how they handle that in a composite construction. Boeing is going that way with the Dreamliner, but I still prefer flying a 747..or 777.
There is nothing like riding business class upstairs in the 747..better than first class up front.

[Robe]

I am retired box hauler...many many miles in Convair 880’s,DC-8 Heavy's, DC-10’s and 747’s. By far the 747 was pussycat to fly, it would shake rattle and roll in heavy turbulence but never once did I fear a in flight breakup.
You haven't lived if you haven't seen a 747 completely covered with St Elmo's fire.

[WellyP]

Carbon fiber is a pretty good transmitter of electrons!

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