Metal Aircraft

Air India Learns: Composite Aircraft Advertised “Lightweight” Is ‘Stealthy’; “Fuel Saving” Is ‘Cloaked’

News Analysis: Air India Learns: Composite Aircraft Advertised “Lightweight” Is ‘Stealthy’; “Fuel Saving” Is ‘Cloaked’ since “Manufacturing” may be at odds with “Marketing” where it involves Commercial Airline Manufacturers.

Beyond the varied inherent problems in Carbon/Carbon Composites (as ‘Rain in the Plane’), there is also the problem of strength to highly stressed areas of an aircraft such as the “Wing Box” where it merges into the fuselage. Other areas such as the wing interfaces (hard points) with engine pylon nacelles may require additional support for strength. The list goes on and on.

Where strengthening is required, ‘Doublers’ made of Carbon/Carbon Composite can be fabricated. In many cases, Stainless Steel or Titanium is required for maximum strength. ALL of the ‘Doublers’ add weight; much more than many ‘Marketeers’ will admit to customers.

Fuel burn increases occur, with the added weight of structural enforcements, subsequently added in production. The vaunted: “5%”, “6%”, “10%”, “12%”, or “15%” Fuel Savings, touted by some airframes, is an illusion in many cases.

Since Carbon/Carbon Composite Construction FOR COMMERCIAL AIRCRAFT, is with a very short history, it is likely such aircraft can be expected to be written off in a much SHORTER LIFE SPAN. Metal aircraft have decades of life-span confirmation. They are not subject to deterioration from Solar Ray degradation of the metals (as are the adhesives used in Carbon/Carbon Construction). Furthermore de-lamination of the plies (due to stressing over time) weakens the fabrication significantly.

The Ethiopian Airlines Battery Fire, which was widely disseminated in the press, demonstrates another shortcoming of Composites: Heat. Allegedly, the Airframe rebuilt, in purported secrecy, the area that was damaged. “Why the concealment?” many airlines ask. 

Lastly, Composites do not dent; they fracture when hit. Any Landing Gear Failures will demonstrate the “Shattered Egg Shell Principle” as  Composite Aircraft Fuselages hit runways. 

From a Manufacturing perspective: If an Airline wants Longevity, Reliability, and Safety (LRS), Metal Constructions cannot be beat; a long History demonstrates this simple fact.

Alleged “Light-Weight” Construction is an also-ran in the ‘LRS’ Evaluation of Airline Aircraft to Purchase.

What materials may be suitable for Warfare Environment “Expendable” Military Aircraft is not necessarily the best for the travelling public in Commercial Airliners.

Reality.

Reference: http://seattletimes.com/html/businesstechnology/2023756440_boeingairindiaxml.html

★ Carbon/Carbon Composite (CCC) Cremations Could Create Customer Chaos

Premium News Analysis: Carbon/Carbon Composite (CCC) Cremations Could Create Customer Chaos by its Inherent Fire Capacity. Carbon is Flammable as are the Petrochemical Adhesives used to bind the Carbon/Carbon (CC) Textiles together. Automobiles, such as the Incinerated Porsche Carrera GT widely discussed in the Los Angeles County, California is one example. The tragedy of the  Actor’s alleged “Cremation” from a fire last week in a One-Car Accident, is that the Porsche’s Body and Under Carriage was built from ‘CCC’ like some New Aircraft.

The Fuel of the Aircraft Fuselages, ‘CCC’, being added to the abundant Air surrounding the Airliner only needs the Third Element for a Conflagration: Heat. The Engines or the Auxiliary Power Unit are more than capable of providing that Element. In fact, Mere Electrical Wiring has actually Caused Fuselage  Fire on ‘CCC’ Airplanes! Once a fire commences, the Adhesive weakens and the ‘CC’ Fabric commences to De-laminate (thereby weakening the aircraft). 

Passengers riding in a Commercial Aircraft built of Carbon/Carbon Composites today is Analogous to passengers riding in a Hay Wagon of Yesteryear, some people would say. The main benefit to those in the Hay Wagon is they would merely Jump Off  of it if there was a fire; Airline Passengers typically do not have that luxury (especially while in flight).

If an Aircraft  fire develops and the Landing Gear becomes dis-functional a “Belly Landing” will evidence a Shattering of the Fuselage, like a cracked Egg Shell. How many passengers might be expected to be tossed out of the Aircraft thereafter?

Airframes have sold the Airlines and the Public the “Lighter Weight” Benefits of Composite Aircraft. They Absolutely Ignore the Inherent Frailties of  this Flammable Material. If possible, they want the Mass Media to not discuss (nor show photographs of) the Electrical Wiring Fires Damages that have occurred in their Airplanes to date.

Metal Aircraft (or Automobile Construction) does NOT provide “Fuel For Fires”; but in Terms of Product Marketing, ‘Metal’ is not “Sexy”. Reality.

Reference: http://tinyurl.com/n69zejr