Boeing Unveils Its Jumbo Killer

[ackattacker]

They're talking about folding wing tips, not folding wings. Just the last 10 feet of each wing.

I'm guessing they'll be plenty strong, but even with a failure you're not going to be uncontrollable.

Edit: Found this article, which states the aircraft will be certified to fly with the wingtips folded, and the folding portion will not contain any moving control surfaces:

http://www.aspireaviation.com/2013/02/14/boeing-777x-787-10-unfazed-by-787-battery-woes/

 

[ImbracableCrunk]

This message brought to you by the Koch Brothers.

FTFY:

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[WSurf]

I would have thought the same about lithium-ion batteries.

No doubt!

 

[GogglesPisano]

FTFY:

This message brought to you by Grassroots Patriotic Patriots for Coal Prosperity of America. 503(c).

You forgot to add a "freedom," or two.

 

[SIG600]

Wrong. Its happened.

Hence the "I've never heard of" disclaimer. I know several instances of guys trying to launch with the wings folded.

Link, SIR, hazrep?

 

[dicko]

Hence the "I've never heard of" disclaimer. I know several instances of guys trying to launch with the wings folded.

Link, SIR, hazrep?

11 October 1974. RAF Phantom FGR2. Crashed on takeoff after wing fold mechanism left unlocked. Both crew now own Martin Baker ties.

http://www.ejection-history.org.uk/aircraft_by_type/f-4_phantom_raf.htm

Couple more -

http://luckypuppy.net/i-watched-as-the-phantom-crashed/

 

[jonjuan]

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[xjhawk]

SO reading between the lines, I am thinking the Delta order is only going to be for all those ex Navy guys or maybe I am missing something here and you are all hinting that the 777X is the Navy's replacement for the F/A 18?

Baahahahahaha

 

[SIG600]

11 October 1974. RAF Phantom FGR2. Crashed on takeoff after wing fold mechanism left unlocked. Both crew now own Martin Baker ties.

http://www.ejection-history.org.uk/aircraft_by_type/f-4_phantom_raf.htm

Couple more -

http://luckypuppy.net/i-watched-as-the-phantom-crashed/

They were left unlocked, it didn't fail. That's like blaming the gear for landing with the handle up.

 

[dicko]

They were left unlocked, it didn't fail. That's like blaming the gear for landing with the handle up.

I agree. But, it's just one more thing for a human to fail at. When they do, Martin Baker isn't going to have 350 seats in the back to get people out of trouble.

I'm not against the idea of folding wings. However, it does seem to be an obvious point at which a catastrophic event becomes possible. We recently started putting gear pins in as a matter of course. Guess how many of our airplanes fell over during the night prior to gear pins being installed ? Now guess how many have taken off with them installed ? By the way, the airplane doesn't require gear pins to be installed.