[DeTomaso] FW: NPC Probably not new to you aeroheads but wow-

[gow2 at rc-tech.net]

I am not sure it is bad as much as different.  My brother worked on the
composite material team at Boeing in the 80's. Their job at the time was
to shoot holes in composite wings then come up with a repair process which
protects its strength.

Just requires  a different aproach.



>
> In a message dated 6/17/15 11 33 50, gow2 at rc-tech.net writes:
>
>
>> Ironically one of the problem with composites is repair. When you run
>> something like carbon fiber in a solid line from wing tip to wing tip,
>> if
>> you punch it with an ice pick you have compromised the strength of the
>> entire string.
>>
>
>>>>...and I think that's something that may have been overlooked in the
> stampede towards CF construction of airliners.   There are a lot of
> minimum-wage boneheads driving catering trucks and whatnot that routinely
> bump into the
> airplanes they are servicing, causing localized damage.   Such airplanes
> are immediately withdrawn from service and undergo an inspection, and then
> often a localized patch is applied and the airplane is ready to go again
> in
> just a few hours.   It's not uncommon to see airplanes with multiple such
> patches on the skin; eventually they will go for a heavy maintenance (akin
> to a
> ground-up restoration in automotive circles) and then the offending panels
> are removed and replaced with new ones.
>
> This begs the question--how does a CF airplane respond when a bozo crashes
> into it with a catering truck?   CF doesn't 'ding' as far as I know.   Can
> localized repairs be made?
>
> F-1 cars may prove reassuring in this regard.   Recall that at this year's
> Montreal GP, Lewis Hamilton comprehensively smashed his car on the first
> day's practice, hitting the wall hard, pieces and parts flying everywhere
> etc.
>  The whole side of the car was demolished; however the team was able to
> drag the wreck back to the garage and rebuild it overnight; he went on to
> win
> the race.   So that gives some cause for optimism perhaps?
>
> Mike