Boeing's New 787 Wings — Amazingly Flexible

An anonymous reader writes "Boeing is making the wings of its new 787 out of carbon fiber instead of metal. That means the wings are so strong and flexible that they could bend upward and touch above the fuselage — or come close. The company is expected to deliver the first 787 to All Nippon Airlines in May 2008. 'Boeing has completed static testing of a three-quarter wingbox, but engineers are still considering whether to limit testing of the full wing to a 150% load limit held for 3 sec. or to continue bending it to see when it breaks. 'There's a raging debate within the engineering team to see if we should break it or not,' says [787 General Manager Mike] Bair.'" They have come a long way in wing flexibility.

Comments

Re:I hope they test it!

[AKAImBatman]

That's not what he's saying. What he's saying is that when aluminum wings break off, there's minimal damage to the surrounding areas. Carbon fiber breakage, on the other hand, has the potential to explode into bits and pieces of highly energetic shards that can kill, maim, and otherwise cause general destruction.

Long story short.

Aluminum: Safe to test in indoor testing facility.
Carbon Fiber: Likely to destroy the test facility and anyone unlucky enough to be in it.

Re:Slashdot Poll

[jollyreaper]

If any article screams out for a Slashdot poll, this one is it.

1. Chicken out and don't break 'em
2. See how far they go and post it to YouTube
3. Orinthop mode! Pull 'em back and let 'em flap!
4. Cowboy Neal 5. ???
6. Profit!

Re:Shopping for planes has never looked more fun

[jollyreaper]

Airbus: Care for some metal wings?
Boeing Client: No, thank you, I take them flexible, like my women. Airbus: How about you, Mr. Dole?
Bob Dole: Sure. I like them rigid, unlike my--
Airbus: TMI! TMI! Just sign here.