Dan Rather Reports - Boeing 787 composite concerns (2 of 4)

Dan Rather reports on Boeing's use of composite materials in the construction of the Boeing 787 Dreamliner and introduces the concerns of former Boeing engineer Vince Weldon to the flying public.

Category:

Science & Technology

Tags:

• Boeing
• 787
• Dreamliner
• Dan
• Rather
• Reports
• Vince
• Weldon
• composite
• fuselage
• rolls
• royce
• trent
• 1000
• 777
• 767
• structure
• wings

[GoogleEqualsEvil]

That article is on the Discovery Channel blog about NASA's 50th Anniversary. Besides his Design and Engineering expertise, the most notable point is his ethics that are in full evidence. He obviously has a long record of not only excellence in Design and Engineering, but of exceptional professionalism and the highest ethical standards.

[GoogleEqualsEvil]

Well said, and very true. Mr. Weldon was in fact fired by Boeing over this. When he was fired he was the Director of New Technology and Research. I'm reluctant to use the word genius in reference to anyone, but it may fit Mr. Weldon in regard to Aerospace Design and Engineering. He has a long and proven history of innovation and problem solving regarding a wide variety of Aerospace and Structural Engineering issues. I also agree that Boeing would never publically admit to any design problems.

[davetileguy]

All you environmentalists should be happy ! less fuel !

[crockett616]

bitch got annoying voice

[palebit]

the airlines are complaining? no it's the fucking CEOs of the airlines who want their 'bottom line' any educated pilot / flight attendant / passenger does not want to fly on a composite aircraft.

[PMAN365]

we wont know the truth until one of these birds falls out of the sky, although the massive delays are evidence that there are problems, they said its going into service in 08... but its 09 and that cocksucker hasnt even flown yet

[italianluvah83]

Well getting struck by lightening sounds like fun in the new 787 lol

[GoogleEqualsEvil]

I would encourage anyone who wants to know a little more about Mr. Weldon's background to look up "Vincent A. Weldon NASA article". In his response to the article he outlines a small fraction of some of his Aerospace and Structural design and engineering accomplishments on Aircraft/Spacecraft (including Apollo and the Shuttle). Which included some of the first structural composite design and engineering (Shuttle Aft Fuselage) with a variety of then exotic materials like Titanium and Beryllium.

[GoogleEqualsEvil]

Good points tjp353. It's hard for me to understand why so many people choose to be stupid, or are deaf, or don't understand English. Mr. Weldon never said graphite based composites shouldn't be used in aircraft. What he IS saying, is that there are serious issues unrelated to their proven good properties (like strength / stiffness vs. weight). Like their lack of toughness, which is a materials ability to deform and absorb impact. Obviously that would have a serious effect on crashworthiness.

[tjp353]

RexBanner. How many airliners are currently in service than have fuselages built solely from CFC? How long have they been in service?

Since Mr Weldon's concerns regard crashworthiness - the ability to protect passengers during/ after potentially survivable crashes, and the effects of age/ wear & tear on composite planes, your example is totally irrelevant. CFC/GFRP is not new but it's previously only been used on mainly aluminium airliners. It's too early to know if his concerns are valid.