747-8

[dcunning30]

Excuse me, but the Mosquito was wood and paper.  When I'm referring to composites, I'm referring to carbon fiber, I think that's the long held assumption.  And I always thought carbon fiber was a type of plastic, an oil product, not wood.  

[Woodlouse2002]

Carbon Fibre is just what it says on the tin. Wood is fibres of carbon. What most understand to be carbon fibre though is strands of Graphite (carbon) woven together to form a very strong material.


As I said, when you refer to composites you could be refering to anything. Wood and epoxy for example. Thats a composite as well.

[Hagar]

I don't think any paper was involved in the construction of the Mosquito.

It's quite possible the 787 will make use of a new hi-tech wing based on the Rutan designs. I wouldn't know about that but it's generally accepted that swept wings don't need as much dihedral as a straight wing. In fact they need very little at all. If you have too much dihedral the aircraft becomes too stable & could be difficult to control in some situations.

We're not actually talking about dihedral per se but wing flex. Even if they do flex as much as on those artists impressions they would sag on the ground which brings more problems.

[C]

Rutan's planes are designed with maximum effeciency so they can achieve the performance and fuel effeciency never before heard of.  By the way, what was one of the selling points of the 7E7, performance and fuel efficiency?

Yes, but it still doesn't mean its going to have super hi aspect ratio wings to flex like a very bendy thing... We are talking about an airliner here, and Doug's last point is very valid...

I think its all in the perception to the customer - it looks pleasing to the eye and different. The day wings flex that much will be the day I decide not to join the airlines and carry on flying ancient aeroplanes instead...

[C]

I don't think any paper was involved in the construction of the Mosquito*.

I think veneer was the thinnest layer in the composite...


*Apart from the plans...

[dcunning30]

The day wings flex that much will be the day I decide not to join the airlines and carry on flying ancient aeroplanes instead...

Ever see a B52 in flight?  It's been said it's wing flexes 16 feet.

[Hagar]

[quote]Ever see a B52 in flight?

[dcunning30]

That is apparently true depending on fuel load. Note the B-52 wing has a large anhedral when at rest. It also has outriggers at the wingtips to prevent them dragging on the ground. All wings flex to a greater or lesser extent depending on the design & type of structure.

Agreed, definately true statements.  That's also a design that's over 40 years old.  The 787 is using new concepts, new technologies.

I found an interesting discussion on the subject here. http://www.airdisaster.com/forums/showthread.php?t=77005
The forum members seem to know what they're talking about. "Verbal" presumably works for Boeing & lists his occupation as Stress Analysis Engineer. Most of the specific details will still be a closely guarded secret.

PS. This is on the 787 but I understand that the 747-8 will use a lot of the same features.

Awsome!  I read that exact thread yesterday!

The wonders of google!