Comments on: Qantas flies away from Dreamliner deal. What next?

By: Dermot McGuire

Dermot McGuire — Mon, 29 Jun 2009 01:18:11 +0000

Chris i was thinking comet. whn they had the yomps out it was lovely but the world had moved on.

By: Karl Reed

Karl Reed — Sun, 28 Jun 2009 17:19:40 +0000

FAA certification requirements USED to be that a wing had to broken off a real aircraft to make sure that the breaking stresses were as predicted. I know that Boeing designers were proposing to the FAA that their computer modelling was so good that this was no longer necessary. (‘argument put but Boeing safety critical software engineer keynoting a conference in about 1996). I don’t know if the FAA changed its rules.

However, this recent experience suggests that (good) old-fashion destructive testing is still needed. If the computer models assume the lamination process is as designed, then they won’t predict that as a failure mode for the designed stresses. The model may include the strength of the laminations, but that would be based on the design goals for the lamination being met successfully.

I wouldn’t blame the Boeing marketing people for this. The engineers must have believed this technology would work. It reminds one of Rolls Royce’s (the aircraft engine arm) problems with carbon fibre in engine rotors in the RB211 in the 60’s .. bankrupted them, and lead to their nationalisation. It may be a case of “a (technology) bridge to far”.

So, will Obama nationalise Boeing of this breaks them, or, will he let Airbus buy them, or what?

Interesting..

By: paddy

paddy — Fri, 26 Jun 2009 11:17:12 +0000

Judging by the small problem of the “sides” of the plane delaminating, I think it will probably be the Comet of the 21st century.

By: John Bennetts

John Bennetts — Fri, 26 Jun 2009 08:39:44 +0000

There are still 9 decades during which the 787 can become the airplane of the 21st century… provided that fuel can be found somehow.

By: meski

meski — Fri, 26 Jun 2009 05:51:20 +0000

The 787 will be the Spruce Goose of the 21st Century.

There, fixed it for you.

By: Jeremy Davis

Jeremy Davis — Fri, 26 Jun 2009 05:23:47 +0000

Chris, your enthusiastic comment could be seen in a similar light - you don’t work in Chicago or Seattle do you? It’s yet to be seen if the Dreamliner will be the ‘aircraft of the 21st century’, and the same can be said of the A380. I’m sure Ben would agree that on the face of it the Dreamliner technology is impressive but you have to admit the development process has been pretty rocky. Not unlike the problems Airbus had with the A380, although the Boeing issues are now starting to look more serious. Boeing really only have themselves to blame for this perception as they decided to roll out a temporarily stapled together prototype.

By: chris gibson

chris gibson — Fri, 26 Jun 2009 04:46:33 +0000

What a lot of hot air! Does Ben Sandilands work for Airbus. The 787 will be the aircraft of the 21st century. Many new aircraft have problems which can and will be fixed.