Duct tape prices skyrocket!
Posted on 07/03/2006 10:00:54 AM PDT by smonk
Airbus begins installation of A380 wing reinforcements By Max Kingsley-Jones in Filton
Airbus has begun to install a strengthening package on to the wing of a completed A380 as an interim solution after the static-test specimen suffered a premature rupture during its ultimate load test. Meanwhile, Airbus UK is working on a long-term redesign of components.
“We have devised a small modification package while we go through the analysis to understand [the rupture] in detail and devise a long-term solution, to present that to the European Aviation Safety Agency [EASA],” says Airbus UK head of A380 wing engineering Phil Hamblin. “The interim package is being put into the aircraft on the production line at the moment. Longer term, rather than add on reinforcings, we’ll embody the modifications into the machining of the baseline components at source.”
Airbus UK senior vice-president Brian Fleet says the interim modifications have been incorporated into the wing of MSN003, which is the first A380 for Singapore Airlines and currently in Hamburg for cabin installation.
“The remainder of the wings that have already been delivered will be modified in the next few months,” says Fleet. “Wings delivered from MSN018 onwards will have the modifications incorporated before delivery to the final assembly line.”
Hamblin says that, although the interim modifications have not been approved by EASA, the agency “has been taken through our findings and our analysis of the test, and has approved our approach”. He adds that approval “will be covered in the documentation presented for A380 certification” later this year.
Fleet says discussions are already under way with suppliers about modifying the base designs.
Think twice-buy Boeing!
"Trust me,folks,there's no chance that the wings will fall off of this baby.Well.almost no chance."
LOL!!
It sort of reminds of me of some programming projects I was involved with in another life.
A little more significant than some shifting wiring bundles.
Before this thread goes off the deep end, anybody know of any other instances like this with other commercial airliners?
this can't be helping the A380 with it's widely whispered weight problem.
Sounds like the French aren't any better at building airplanes than they are at building nuclear-powered warships. Sounds like socialist France is having the same problems with it's cradle-to-grave 'workforce' that the USSR had. Why perform well at work when there is neither reward nor punishment?
By the time they get one of these abortions flying they will have to market low cost airfare to those contemplating suicide.
Yes- the first one, the De Haviland Comet:
http://www.centennialofflight.gov/essay/Aerospace/DeHavilland/Aero49.htm
Then this is the engineering equivelant for the term "kluge" - also European in origin.
Yeah, that's a good example of not fixing a problem before it starts.
If its not Boeing I'm not going.............
"By the time they get one of these abortions flying they will have to market low cost airfare to those contemplating suicide."
It has flown, though without a passenger load. Just the flight crew.
It's a monstrosity.
Hey, in 1949 we couldn't do nondestructive testing, or do computer simulation of fatigue effects. The disasters of the Comet helped later aircraft designers develop semi-indestructible aircraft like the B-52.
And we have had our own problems, like the C-141. Of course, that occurs past 45,000 hours flying time. Not with brand-new aircraft.
http://michaelsims.net/football/isbn1580070809.html
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