A bit off thread but.....
In these days of super sophisticated computers and software producing most of the structural design and theoretical testing of performance at this design stage, I've always wondered why all aircraft don't end up being identical....
For instance,
Why would the wing for the 787 and A350 not be exactly the same other than for size/scale differences ?
Why would the location and length of the pylons ( relative to the size of the wing ) not be exactly the same ?
Why wouldn't the airframe's ribs and spars and the profile/shape of the v/s be exactly the same, again allowing for size/scale ?
And why were some aircraft conceived, designed and built with underwing mounted engines and others with fuselage mounted engines and T-Tails ?
And others designed with high wing construction rather than conventional low wing construction ? Presumably one method or combination of the these alternatives produces the better aerodynamics compared to the other(s) ?
I seem to recall reading an article a few months ago, but can't remember where, that Boeing actually hired-in an industrial designer to give the 787 a "more pleasing-on-the-eye" design, although I would have thought that this part of the design was not exactly high priority - unless there really is an element of 'individuality' required for marketing the arcraft....Perhaps this was the reason for the small winglets on the A320 when it first appeared, or the huge winglets now seen on the 737NG even though when Boeing were designing the new wing they had already acquired the knowledge and technology to produce a 'winglet-less' design based on their 'winglet-less' and strakes design for the 777....
Just me wondering....