A380 - earlier than expected testing failure ...or not..??
Thread Starter
Joined: Oct 2002
Posts: 1,525
Likes: 6
From: In Frozen Chunks (Cloud Cuckoo Land)
A380 - earlier than expected testing failure ...or not..??
Supposedly the wing box testing of the A380 failed much sooner than expected. (This rumour is off an airline rumour network, so I dont have much faith in it).
Is anyone able to find out whether this is BS or not?
Is anyone able to find out whether this is BS or not?
Evertonian
Joined: May 2000
Aviation Qualifications: Non-Aircrew
Posts: 13,470
Likes: 278
From: #3117# Ppruner of the Year Nominee 2005
This rumour is off an airline rumour network, so I dont have much faith in it
Sooo....you thought you'd confirm it on a different airline rumour network???
Paxing All Over The World
Joined: May 2001
Posts: 10,843
Likes: 328
From: Hertfordshire, UK.
Why don't you set up 380Rumours.com and that will save Cap'n PPRuNe's bandwidth? 
--------------------
"I tell you, we are here on Earth to fart around, and don't let anybody tell you any different." Kurt Vonnegut, Jr.
--------------------
"I tell you, we are here on Earth to fart around, and don't let anybody tell you any different." Kurt Vonnegut, Jr.
Thread Starter
Joined: Oct 2002
Posts: 1,525
Likes: 6
From: In Frozen Chunks (Cloud Cuckoo Land)
You would need a new rumour network once you had your 381st rumour then, wouldnt you.............. 
_________________________________________________>>>
Anyway back to the topic...........
_________________________________________________>>>
Anyway back to the topic...........
PPRuNe Knight in Shining Armour
Joined: Feb 2000
Posts: 503
Likes: 0
From: Everywhere in the UK, but not home!
I can categorically state that the wing fell off a few hours after the "coming out" ceremony.
The big bird took one look at the assembled throng and thought "do I really want to live in a world run but twits like that?" and promptly broke down/up!
The big bird took one look at the assembled throng and thought "do I really want to live in a world run but twits like that?" and promptly broke down/up!
Guest
Posts: n/a
One test I would love to see is the max takeoff weight emergency stop!!
couple of other things.........
Heard in another post that it would need the curvature of the earth to climb.......send it down the M25 towards the cliffs of Dover....
'Oh LHR is foggy and we need to divert....sorry can't as no other airfield can take us!!!'
Virgin want to install a jacuzzi.......with the turnover of air in the cabin, wouldn't the water have evapourated half way through the flight ? make sure the avionics bay isn't underneath.....and double beds!!
'Please Miss...can I have a couple of condoms and an extension seatbelt !'
couple of other things.........
Heard in another post that it would need the curvature of the earth to climb.......send it down the M25 towards the cliffs of Dover....
'Oh LHR is foggy and we need to divert....sorry can't as no other airfield can take us!!!'
Virgin want to install a jacuzzi.......with the turnover of air in the cabin, wouldn't the water have evapourated half way through the flight ? make sure the avionics bay isn't underneath.....and double beds!!
'Please Miss...can I have a couple of condoms and an extension seatbelt !'
Joined: Jan 2001
Posts: 348
Likes: 2
From: Canada
"One test I would love to see is the max takeoff weight emergency stop!!"
I'm sure it will be recorded in detail.
Did a tour at Boeing and one of the presentations in their theatre was a showing of that test. The amount of smoke and flame was amazing. The minimum unstick speed testing was also very interesting.
I'm sure it will be recorded in detail.
Did a tour at Boeing and one of the presentations in their theatre was a showing of that test. The amount of smoke and flame was amazing. The minimum unstick speed testing was also very interesting.
Joined: Mar 2004
Posts: 137
Likes: 0
From: Origae-6
I wonder if I asked the same question about Boeings 7E7 if it would have hit nether nether land as fast as the other airplane, that I originally reffered to. I will no longer refer to the A3XX since it seems to be a touchy subject.
Cheers
Cheers
Thread Starter
Joined: Oct 2002
Posts: 1,525
Likes: 6
From: In Frozen Chunks (Cloud Cuckoo Land)
Nah - i have no contacts - if anything - only contacts in low places!
Anyway, this wasnt meant to be a wind up - hopefully someone can shed some light on whether the said rumour is true. I remember seeing the Boeing 747 test video, where the main wing spar snaps after some 27 foot or so wing deflection - it seemed fairly impressive. I would like to see the stress the A380s wing takes before it snaps - after all, with composites involved i thought it could take more punishment - and if it hasnt taken the strain as expected, i wonder what else may have been 'under-engineered'.
I am not sure if we would find out the truth. I wouldnt think Airbus would want news of the wing test failing prematurely to get out and about (if indeed it has).
Anyway, this wasnt meant to be a wind up - hopefully someone can shed some light on whether the said rumour is true. I remember seeing the Boeing 747 test video, where the main wing spar snaps after some 27 foot or so wing deflection - it seemed fairly impressive. I would like to see the stress the A380s wing takes before it snaps - after all, with composites involved i thought it could take more punishment - and if it hasnt taken the strain as expected, i wonder what else may have been 'under-engineered'.
I am not sure if we would find out the truth. I wouldnt think Airbus would want news of the wing test failing prematurely to get out and about (if indeed it has).
Last edited by blueloo; 20th January 2005 at 03:30.
Joined: Jun 2001
Posts: 238
Likes: 40
From: Bristol,UK
Would not such a test have been done long ago? and if there ever had been a problem would it not be resolved by now?
Where would the test be done? Filton? If so I am sure there would be roumers around where I am by now.
Where would the test be done? Filton? If so I am sure there would be roumers around where I am by now.
Joined: Mar 2002
Posts: 4,569
Likes: 1
From: Florida
I realize that we are having fun with this rumor.
As one who has been involved in the certification and continued airworthiness side of the business, my experience is that lots of testing goes on past the roll out, past the first flight and indeed way past the first delivery.
Some of the testing is certification critical and may have to be updated (read completed satisfactorily) before delivery. While other testing (cyclic fatigue) may take some time to accumulate even past delivery.
With that said, its not at all unusual for early results to indicate a design change to be updated in a later ship. Thus the rumor could be true, but the only folks that it really matters are the ordering customers vs their incorporation schedule.
Thus Zzzzzzzzzzz
As one who has been involved in the certification and continued airworthiness side of the business, my experience is that lots of testing goes on past the roll out, past the first flight and indeed way past the first delivery.
Some of the testing is certification critical and may have to be updated (read completed satisfactorily) before delivery. While other testing (cyclic fatigue) may take some time to accumulate even past delivery.
With that said, its not at all unusual for early results to indicate a design change to be updated in a later ship. Thus the rumor could be true, but the only folks that it really matters are the ordering customers vs their incorporation schedule.
Thus Zzzzzzzzzzz