I wonder what the composite loaded plastics mean in terms of expansion/contraction and how they do at supersonic speeds. I can believe they do ok at sub-sonic speeds but could they be used for high tech fighters?
What? Composites have been used in fighters for decades. The B-2 which was designed in the 1980's and first flew in 1989 is all composite. Engineers are just a little bit conservative in using composites in the fuselage of an aircraft holding 250-300 people. Military planes have used them to decrease weight and increase performance, and it is assumed that military aircraft take greater risks than do civilian transports. It is the military experience with composites that allows Boeing to have confidence in using them for civilian aircraft.