Dreamliner (787) "bird test" prompts design tweak

Seattle Times ^ | 2-3-07 | Dominic Gates

[Central Scrutiniser]

Boeing acknowledged Friday that the horizontal tail section of the 787 Dreamliner had cracked slightly during a so-called "bird-strike" test, but described the incident as a routine part of developing the new jet.

The Dreamliner program is under intense scrutiny as Boeing prepares to build the first all-composite airliner, so every glitch — or potential glitch — makes analysts and investors skittish.

Spokeswoman Lori Gunter said the test was part of the development process and not a certification test, so the company's engineers strongly object to applying "the f-word," meaning failure.

"It wasn't a test you pass or fail. It was a test you learn from," she said.

In the November test, engineers fired an 8-pound gel pack — simulating a large bird — from a high-speed cannon, hitting the leading edge of the winglike section. The test helps assess what would happen to the tail section if the plane collided with a real bird in flight.

[Central Scrutiniser]

For all you that bash Airbus, some equal time.

[Central Scrutiniser]

Aviation ping

[Hillarys Gate Cult]

It's the reason why they test. It would be surprising and scary if they didn't find any flaws.

[Fred Hayek]

engineers fired an 8-pound gel pack

They're not using frozen chickens anymore? (In the 1960's, the Air Force fired them at canopies, radomes, and even jet engines while running).

[Central Scrutiniser]

I agree, but if it were Airbus there would be dozens of ignorant posts here mocking the French, etc.

Boeing and Airbus make fine planes.

[NormsRevenge]

That must have left one heck of a dent...

[neodad]

If it ain't Boeing, I ain't going.

[Central Scrutiniser]

If I want comfort, I fly Airbus.

[Uriah_lost]

If it had been Airbus, this would have come up AFTER launch.
You kinda asked for it....

[KarlInOhio]

They're not using frozen chickens anymore? (In the 1960's, the Air Force fired them at canopies, radomes, and even jet engines while running).

Frozen? The punchline to the old joke about the chicken cannon was "thaw the chicken first". (There are too many variations of who are the idiot engineers firing the frozen chicken and who's the experts with the "thaw" recommendation.)

[Moonman62]

If Europe didn't see it's role in the world as opposition to the United States, filling the void of the collapsed Soviet Union, it never would have built that ugly behemoth, overweight, budget busting, piece of crap A380.

Now what were you saying about equal time?

[Central Scrutiniser]

Airbus can be controlled by pilots. You need to read up.

They both make good planes. Planes usually crash because of shoddy maintenance.

[Central Scrutiniser]

The A380 hasn't had its day in service, so I won't comment till I see its record.

Critics said the same thing about the 747.

I prefer to wait and see, sometimes its a slow time coming like the 767, sometimes its an outright bomb like the MD11.

But, until the planes fly in service for a few years, the story isn't told.

[Moonman62]

Critics said the same thing about the 747.

Forty years ago, and noone ever called it ugly. It's one of the most beautiful aircraft ever built, and is still queen of the skies. And thanks to the screwups at Airbus there will be yet another version.

[xjcsa]

As the story notes, real birds will be used for the actual certification tests.

[Central Scrutiniser]

People called the 747 ugly.

I like it, the SP version.

[lepton]

Having seen the "rooster booster", it's always used a sort of processed meat cylinder after the first few trails. The cylindrical shape means they can precisely aim the packet out of the air cannon. Firing frozen versions would just make the test invalid due to surface-area issues.

[Larry Lucido]

First rule of bird tests: Always defrost the birds before the test.

[Paleo Conservative]

That's why planes are tested before they're allowed to enter revenue service.

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