Posted on 02/07/2012 7:37:50 PM PST by Gamecock
Edited on 02/07/2012 9:26:45 PM PST by Admin Moderator. [history]
SYDNEY
(Excerpt) Read more at foxbusiness.com ...
Sorry but in something that humungous there ain’t no such thing as minor cracks. Minor cracks are found in potato chips, plaster walls, hand mirrors and junior plumbers not in something that takes me 7 miles into the clouds.
I hope more PAX airframes are sold. The 747 is the best aircraft out there for passenger comfort IMHO.
Here's my question. If brand-new wings, in an "uncracked" state, developed cracks, wouldn't it be reasonable to expect the "cracked" wings to develop new cracks on the old cracks? I mean, I'm only a dumb EE, but are cracked surfaces stronger than non-cracked surfaces?
If the answer to that question is anything other than an unequivocal "yes," than EADS' official position -- that the cracks represent absolutely nothing to be worried about -- is seen to be 100% poppycock.
Where have I gone wrong in my logic here?
That said, I'll gladly fly in the Dreamliner; and, I will take meticulous pains to avoid flights on the A380.
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Send them to haiti for shelters.
“Dreamliner and A380 ridiculous albatrosses and unecessary....”
Obviously you are not in the aviation industry. The 737 are coming up for replacement, the 757 and 767 are getting a bit long in the tooth, airports want quieter airplanes, airlines need more fuel effeciency and less maintenance costs and more airtime.
Also, the 787 is NOT the same size as the A380. The 787, while coming out at the same basic timeframe, is not meant to be a competitor to the 380 in size. It is not even a replacement to the 747.
I agree. The last time I flew on one was with Cathay Pacific. Business Class was pretty comfy aboard that -400.
The 737 has just enetered a new generation - 737MAX with firm orders from Norwegian Airlines, Southwest, AA, and Lion Air.
Sorry but in something that humungous there ain’t no such thing as minor cracks. Minor cracks are found in potato chips, plaster walls, hand mirrors and junior plumbers not in something that takes me 7 miles into the clouds.
I know. It is actually an exciting time to be in aviation, not as a passenger with the TSA and all, but from pilots to engineers there is all kinds of amazing work being done. There hasn’t been this much activity in decades.
I remember the cracks on the then new jet, the Comet...except they developed around the square windows and resulted in the wings falling off in flight. Major engineering oops.
“Sorry but in something that humungous there ain’t no such thing as minor cracks”
Well, guess what? You’ve flown on all kinds of planes with cracks all over the place. There are a number of places where cracks can form without any structural integrity issues at all. To keep all cracks under control the plane would need to be built like a sky scraper.
...................The airline last month found “minor” cracks on another one of its A380s, but the spokeswoman said that the “type two” cracking that prompted the airworthiness directive hasn’t been found on Qantas aircraft........................
Huh?? Quantus has cracking, but “airworthiness directives” haven’t been found on Quantas aircraft??
So I guess that the “minor cracking” only needs duct tape, but keeping the aircraft out of service for a week means fiberglass tape and epoxy!
I agree. Also, the 767 remains in production and there have been some nice refinements in that airframe as well. I missed an opportunity to see a 787; one of the flight test airframes stopped by my local airport nearly a year ago. I still kick myself for missing that.
The wings didn’t fall off until after the airframe exploded (catastrophic decompression).
“I missed an opportunity to see a 787”
It definately is an eye catcher! The cockpit is a pilot’s dream. It is actually roomy and confortable compared to performing aircraft yoga to get into most of them.
The article claims the A380 experienced severe turbulence. I am surprised an airline would not take as many measures as possible to keep that giant structure away from bumps.
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