Is this where they actually bend a wing until it breaks? or just a model? I think I remember them actually testing/breaking a 747 and the video is really cool.
"Is this where they actually bend a wing until it breaks? or just a model? I think I remember them actually testing/breaking a 747 and the video is really cool."
Did you ever see the one where they fired a frozen goose at the cockpit at 200 MPH? Now THAT was cool.
An entire aircraft for this test. One or two prototypes are built for testing to destruction. They simply pull up on the wings and see how much deflection occurs before the wings break. The usual goal is 150% of design limit load. Looks like they hit 147% which is still quite good.
The video I have of the Boeing 777 wing test showed they got to 154% of design limit load before the wings broke. When the wings let go, it sounds like a cannon going off.
I used to break helicopters for a living at KAMAN Aerospace, 11 years
we broke real live full size stuff