The 787 - What happens in a fire?

[bgc]

They added a layer of aluminium mesh to the outer skin of the aircraft. Aluminium is one of the best conductors around, they even make power lines out of it. I think the purpose is that whenever lightning strikes it will travel through the mesh and away from the aircraft. Adding alu mesh to the 787 wing made the wing 2.5% heavier. Not sure how they test it thou. I remember watching a documentary about a super puma that crashed into the north sea because of a lightning strike to the tail rotor. The blades were carbon composite held in place by aluminium attachments. Whenever the lightning tried to travel between the carbon composite and the aluminium there was a massive build up of energy that caused some of the blades to break off. They traced the problem back to the fact that whenever the aircraft was certified a different tail rotor was used so the one on the aircraft that day wasn't lightning strike tested so it is an important test I just don't know how they do it but I'm sure it involves man made lightning.

more info here:

http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/htm..._boeing05.html

[Hardworker]

It will be interesting to see when lightening does strike it and the damage it will do to the carbon fibre structure....the repair maybe horrendous

[AR1]

There are composite structures out there already, the damage by lightening would not come as a surprise. Alu cage sounds a good Idea.

Anyone remember (from the RAF) community the first pair of GR5s in service and the resulting wing delamination caused as one of them was struck by lightening as they flew in close formation for a photo shoot. - The Lightening struck one then flashed to the other causing 2 u/s A/C!!

[Bus429]

Is there an MSDS for the 787?

[amicus]

For those interested in this subject, you can find a good deal of relevant data concerning FAA's latest thinking by going to site www.rgl.faa.gov and then choosing Special Conditions and next search for 787-8 and you will get all proposed and final Special Conditions at present for 787.
Regarding fire and FST, I refer all to Final Special Condition "Boeing Model 787-8 Airplane; Composite Fuselage In -Flight Fire/Flammability Resistance" and please read in detail. Also two Proposed Special Conditions should be of interest, namely Crash-worthiness and Fuel-Fed Wing Tank fire. Both of these should be final in next month or so.
Hope of help and interest.
Amicus

[Hans Peter]

laarbruch crash

I am working on a report about all composite aircraft and am interested in the 1997 Laarbruch accident. All I can find is a short entry in the harrier production list "Encountered a problem on take-off for a proposed low-level training flight in the UK and crashed back onto runway at RAF Laarbruch, Germany. The aircraft crashed inverted and was destroyed by an intense fire, even though fire crews were on the scene immediately and extinguished the blaze within two minutes. The main runway had to be closed following the crash, but resident aircraft and helicopters were able to continue operations from the taxiways." This is a bit confusing because of an article by Wing Commander Andrews (AGARD –CP-587, NATO, 1996) and (Living with composites: fire resistance) that mentions a crash in Denmark 1990 and seven months later a crash in German woodland. Now 'lessons learned' measured were taken in that first responders were properly dressed and so on. Was this the case with the the 1997 accident. I just have to know when I quote.