A while back the subject of main-deck cargo doors came up in the History&Nostalgia forum, and especially the problems you can get with getting them closed due to flexing of the fuselage.
Reichman posted this about the VC10:
A great deal of care still has to taken when using the freight door on the VC10. If the door is opened while the nosewheel isn't straight, or if the aircraft is on slightly uneven ground, there will be trouble closing the door. Methods I've seen employed in the past to close it have been:
a) 10 people stood on each wingtip jumping up and down.
b) A catering truck parked up against the door with as many people as possible pushing against the door.
c) A combination of a and b.
d) Start the aircraft up, taxi around the apron and try again.
Still the Queen of the Skies though.
I started thinking and decided to post this question here:
Is this still a problem that plagues aircraft with main-deck cargo doors or are more modern fuselages less susceptible to flexing due to loading and/or moving?
Anybody with interesting stories/theories?