3 ms·
The structure could be different. For example with latest composites you can assemble the dry fibers, maybe with some stitching to keep them in place, wrap them
by Gravityloss 10y ago
The structure could be different. For example with latest composites you can assemble the dry fibers, maybe with some stitching to keep them in place, wrap them in a bag and use vacuum to infuse them with resin.
No fasteners and large monolithic parts. Sometimes you need an autoclaves, sometimes not. Things like point loads would need to be designed out as much as possible.
Likely because of large existing investments, politics and path dependence, the new airliners built differently will have come from somewhere else.
Airbus itself did disrupt the market with composites back in the day with their first plane, and they have a multi megawatt class electric ones in the works, so who knows, maybe they can renew?
- coredog64 10y agoLarge monolithic parts are harder to repair. That's the upside to the current setup of panels riveted to a frame. Any one of those panels can be drilled out and replaced. Boeing has a special team called "AOG" (aircraft on ground) that will go out to a repairable aircraft that isn't airworthy and make it so. Kind of hard to do that when you need to bring along a megaton autoclave and portable cleanroom.