Test everything in every way until it breaks. If I was in charge of research, design, testing, the CEO or whatever, that’s what I would tell everybody. Test everything to failure, no matter what computer models say.
I think few people are even qualified to form an opinion.
Taking a cue from one of Boeing’s larger customers, they’ll be “field tested” with several hundred passengers aboard as a cost reduction program.
dropped from a height of 15 feet
Don’t most planes fly higher than that?
Interesting analysis in The American Thinkerhttp://www.americanthinker.com/blog/2007/09/the_return_of_rathergate.html
Did anyone ask this question about the possibility of the tail on an Airbus just falling off in flight?
Before they field tested the possibilty in NYC, I mean?
Fired engineer calls 787’s plastic fuselage unsafe
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/boeingaerospace/2003889663_boeing180.html
Is that what happened to Dan Rather? Did someone drop him from fifteen feet???
Smells like Reardon Metal to me, imagine building a better material for both strength and weight in aeronautics just to drive a nail in the coffin of Airbus. The socialists will be outraged as is Dan Rather I’m sure.
Both Boeing and the FAA will make sure that the airframe is safe. Actual scientists/engineers work for both.
Then, I observed that the claim was brought up by Dan Rather.
Folks, Dan Rather doesn’t know type fonts. He knows about as much about structural engineering (which requires -—math-—gasp!) as Al Gore knows about climate.
The next thing, someone will be claiming that Hillary knows about medicine.
Never mind.
Dan Rather, just can’t help himself..
Exactly like his socialist mentor — Conkite, BOTH are returning to the public arena to take their swings at America and the American economy..
These bastards NEVER quit!
We are far too tolerant and kind to the enemies of the Republic..
NOTHING is a convenient coincidence to a Leftist...
Absolutely unsinkable! We will go on. :-)
My opinion, with new materials and construction techniques, you should test more not less. Too many unknowns can slip by. A well written and executed test program will find the weaknesses without excess expenses.
Computers do a lot of the automobile tests these days and results agree very close with actual tests, but ... there are always some things that weren’t thought about before hand.
Thoroughly test and verify, it’s the best way.
I have been following the 787 from day one, and I have every confidence in the Boeing engineers. There really is nothing to worry about. That said, I really would like to see them crash one just to put speculation to rest. Build a stripped down frame, set up 1,000 cameras in the desert, and put one into the ground - just to make sure.
The Engineer saying composites are unsafe seems he has a problem. Maybe he is trying to get attention for himself and has attracted the gadfly Rather to his nest.
Today’s composites include some pretty astounding stuff; Most notable to my thinking are the HCA arrows, i.e. 250-gr arrows which can be fired from safari bows into hard targets without harm to the bow or the arrow. No material from 1970 or thereabouts could produce anything like that.
Well, call me naive but I can’t picture Boeing making a plane that will shatter into bits during an accident. Just wouldn’t seem to be a good business decision.
I know nothing of composites, but I do know aluminum and rivets. Sloppy, high maintenance and prone to corrosion in places you can’t see.
It is well past time for new technology in airframe manufacture.