Boeing Finds New Problem With 787 Dreamliner

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ANYONE? 8/14/2009 4:41:00 PM Is anyone really looking forward to flying in that bucket of bolts. I know I'm not. The arline have decades of experience flying aluminum aircraft and their service life expectancies. Carbon fiber? NO THANK YOU. I'll take the train.
787 Dreamliner 8/14/2009 4:45:00 PM The wrinkles are probablly not structural. They are from age, this thing is taking too long.
Maintenance 8/14/2009 5:02:00 PM I'm sure if and when they eventually get this flying it will be perfect while its brand new. What concerns me is what happens after that. I've worked at a repair facility and we did 737,737 and 747's and others. The amount of composites compared to the rest was minimal. So what happens when everything is reversed? When major structure is composite? You think every shop will have the tools or any experienced people to fix these properly? Yup taking that train is a good idea.
787 Dreamliner 8/14/2009 5:22:00 PM Boeing had a dream. A bad dream
Innovation.... 8/14/2009 5:46:00 PM Come on everyone, we need to improve on 80 year old aluminum airplanes. Composite is the way to go. I commend Boeing for their, once again, desire to lead the pack in new technology.
Boeing finds new problem with the 787 8/14/2009 5:51:00 PM Hey, why don't you guys on the train just go all the way back and live in a cave and WALK!
Composit 8/14/2009 6:00:00 PM Correct me if i am wrong but I think the tail section on the 57 & 67 are composit.
Made In America??? 8/14/2009 7:13:00 PM Isn't this the same company that was crying about parts for it's competitor's aircraft not being made in the U.S.A. and I read that the fuselage for this new Boeing aircraft is made outside the U.S.A. (Italy), oh the horror!! I was under the impression that these products were 100% American. Please. No more whining, just make the best product you can for the best price. Do what is right.
Bailout 8/14/2009 7:18:00 PM Isn't Boeing essentially betting the entire company on composite technology here? Will this be like another GM bailout if fundamental flaws appear later and they are "too big to fail."
Progress anyone? 8/15/2009 11:44:00 AM I'm a little disappointed to see the attitudes in the talkback/comment section of an engineering publication. Perhaps we should have stayed with the use of an abacus and if things got really hard a slide-rule.
Composites aren't new 8/15/2009 11:56:00 AM Carbon fiber, kevlar, mylar and a host of others have been in use fir years in that other flying activity called sailing. Those very large holes in the water into which yu throw money should have enough info to indicate failure rates and methods. Those America Cup boats not only sail hard, but they are moved all over the world and see very harsh conditions. I will admit the fall isn't too far to the water, but the boats that sail around the world are very far from land and help many times during the race or record attempts. i wondr what people said when they switched from balsa wood and fabric to Aluminium, probably "I will be tasking the train" Yea right.
Well, back in my day... 8/15/2009 12:02:00 PM You guys crack me up. I kind of expected to read, "If God had meant for man to fly he would have given him wings." I see a shortage of buggy whips in the near future.
Outsource your future 8/16/2009 12:29:00 PM One more reason to not outsource your companies future. Quality is crap. I have an idea, Lets outsource to China, then we will all worry about poison interior parts and less about crashing due to design problems.
Risks 8/16/2009 5:30:00 PM Certainly given the paramount shift this effort represents in commercial aircraft technology it is to be expected that delays and issues will be plentiful. As an engineer with a bias for free market economies, I respect Boeing for taking the road less travelled and making an effort to do something bold and different. Given the risks associated with commercial aircraft they can not afford to take risks however minor they may be. Be glad they're checking it twice before flying but when your airfare ticket prices are still affordable in the upcoming days of $300/barrel oil, tip your hat to Boeing for stepping outside of the norm and changing the game for the better.
Pushing Technology Requires Thick Skin 8/17/2009 7:58:00 AM I applaud Boeing for pushing the limits of technology and balancing that with public safety. The Dreamliner will eventually fly and will hold true to the vision that the designers and engineers originally had for this aircraft. It is easy to sit back and critize the efforts of those who are on the cutting edge of technology. What is difficult is to grab a rope and start pulling towards solutions.
787 8/17/2009 10:24:00 AM I'm told that he DC3 also had cracks at the edges of the square windows, and that there were problems with the B29 pressurized cabins when those were first out. Few like change but most of us will adapt. I don't know much about planes but am relieved that Boeing is finding the problems before the 787 gets into the air. The learning curve is always difficult with new technology but we adapt, good luck Boeing I know you guys can do it!
commendable risk 8/17/2009 11:10:00 AM It is very commendable for Boeing to be taking this risk. There are many issues. I'm waiting to see what happens when a carbon fiber fuselage gets struck by lightning. My understanding is that they have installed a wire mesh in the skin of the fuselage to create a Farraday cage. The 787 will either be the best idea that Boeing had or the worst. Stay tuned. There's lots to be learned from it.
The 787 8/18/2009 11:07:00 AM This is a minor problem that has already been resolved. Unlike the wing to fuselage joint problem, this is not a safety of flight issue. You can go back to the 707 days when the dash 80 was developed and there were many problems that cropped up and were resolved. The Boeing Company took some big risk back then as well now. Boeing will get this airplane flying and the program will have great success. With any new airplane program there are lessons learned and hopefully less outsourcing will be one of them for the future. For all the naysayers who want to take the train, go for it, better yet take a walk. Your lack of knowledge shows your ignorance about composite technology.
Unreasonable Expectations 8/19/2009 11:53:00 AM I wonder how many complainers get every one of their home projects right the very first time. I have worked for Boeing and have always had great respect for the development processes. In training they showed how they determined the ultimate load on the 727 wing by bending it until it snapped like a twig. I worked on the 737 program and wa part of the team that helped work out all of the bugs in the design and manufacturing processes. I am glad that Boeing doesn't hide the problems because of all the negative press. They take problems in stride and deal with them. I'm glad that tradition has continued. You take the train and I'll be first in line to fly the newest Boeing achievement.
787 Engines 8/20/2009 11:45:00 AM The thing I find most interesting when new aircraft are designed is the stuff you don't hear about. I have personally seen some of the testing for the electrical system on this aircraft and the amount of testing was massive. Carbon fiber has been flying for some time now though not at this scale. Boeing will set records for fuel efficiency on this airframe without a doubt. I wonder if they have done more work on the engines to eak out more fuel efficiency? With the airframe being pushed back, it would seem they should have some time to improve the engines before the type certificate is done.
Don't forget where the carbon fiber comes from 8/20/2009 1:27:00 PM Aluminum aircraft today are made from a lot of recycled aluminum. Carbon fiber comes a lot from rayon which comes from oil, as does the epoxy or BMI or cyante ester resin systems. And none of it can be recycled.
Aluminum vs carbon fiber, failures in development 8/21/2009 11:51:00 AM New aluminum is still required, and it is made with massive amounts of energy. In comparison, the amount of energy to produce a comparable graphite structure is miniscule, whether it's from the oil it comes from or its processing. To Boeing's credit, they're finding their problems in development. Airbus will never find theirs on the bottom of the Atlantic.
787 Wrinkles 8/21/2009 4:48:00 PM A few shots of botox and the project should be back on schedule.

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