Originally Posted by
Fly Aiprt
td,
If it had not failed, it could have been used for other tests, couldn't it ?
Also they were meaning it was destroyed ?
The ultimate load test is
always the last planned test for that airframe, since it
is often tested to destruction during that test. Further, even if it doesn't fail, the test will take portions of the airframe beyond the plastic deformation stage, so its value for
any additional testing is minimal. When they did the 767 ultimate load test ~40 years ago, they planned to test the wings to destruction, but the fuselage failed first.