Full wings
I don't think that Boeing are using an autoclave as you say, I think that the big oven is just that....... A big oven, it does not use the very high pressures that are required for autoclaving. Having looked at it on u tube the structure of the oven appers by the nature of the structure to be incapable of very high pressures.
Boeing have been in the aircraft business long enough to know that aircraft will get damaged in service and simply would not manufacture an aircraft not able to withstand the rough and tumble of airline service. So it follows that they have already given field repair of the structure a very good thinking about. So if you can't put the whole aircraft in a big pressure cooker then you will have to use a resin system that cures at room temperature and then post cure it at a temperature IRO 80c. Some pressure can be applied with vacuum bags and there are a number of ways to get the heat applied in a controlled way.
A well executed scarf repair can achive a strength as near to 100% of the new item as makes no practical diference with a very small increase in weight.
There is no doubt that the size of this repair makes in more challenging than most but it is technically possible just so long as it is left to the composite experts and those with a metal aircraft background don't try to influence the process with metal repair techniques.
The economics and politics are another matter that may well scupper the repair but from a technical point of view a field repair is possible
Last edited by A and C; 12th Oct 2013 at 11:14.
Reason: Damm the predictive text ! Thank you wild goose