Originally Posted by
PAXboy
Looking at the 707-321B and the video, one must ask what part of it's survival was played by it's 'heavy metal' construction versus how such a failure would affect the modern day airliner?
Uhh other than a better aero shape, the wing construction methods and materials have not significantly changed. Improvements in riveting and better fit fasteners and in some casesminors changes for fatigue improvement- wing construction has not changed until the carbon fiber wings were put into service. And that was about 25 years ago ( on the B2 bomber ) . 737 wings and 767 wings and 777 wings up to 7x7, are all aluminum, similar spars and ribs, improved riveting and fastening.
And the failure point in the video was within a few inches of that predicted on the top surface ( compresion buckling ) a close match as it was for the 747 test , 767 did not quite go to failure,
So what do you consider a ' modern day ' airliner.
787 was not taken to failure- which is NOT a requirement anyhow .
And OLD B52 wings are still flying and they really do bend and bend and bend and at takeoff appear to ' flap "
All mostly aluminum with similar construction . .