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2005-11-10 Science & Technology

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Posted by BigEd 2005-11-10 12:25|| || Front Page|| [11135 views since 2007-05-07] Top

#1 HT Drudge - Excuse me...

Posted by BigEd 2005-11-10 12:30|| 2005-11-10 12:30|| Front Page Top

#2 Fabulous! Simply outstanding. Let's see Airbus equal such a feat.

Remember folks, the 777 (or Triple Seven, as it is affectionately known) was the first large scale commercial passenger aircraft in history to go directly from design to full scale build.

No small scale models or mock-ups. I seem to recall that even the wind-tunnel tests were done with computer simulations. This is a stupendous achievement in aviation manufacturing. To have this craft then go and set such a spectacular distance record is dramatic testimony to Yankee ingenuity.

And, yes, the woman pilot setting this record is just icing on the cake for all the Islamists to choke on over their mint tea. Much more importantly, Suzanna Darcy-Hennemann is a fantastic role model for all young girls everywhere.

Posted by Zenster 2005-11-10 12:54|| 2005-11-10 12:54|| Front Page Top

#3 Zenster -

Remember folks, the 777 (or Triple Seven, as it is affectionately known) was the first large scale commercial passenger aircraft in history to go directly from design to full scale build.

Actually, it was tried before with the snakebitten Convair 880:

http://www.airliners.net/articles/read.main?id=67

Mike

Posted by Mike Kozlowski 2005-11-10 19:22|| 2005-11-10 19:22|| Front Page Top

#4 Mike, I was referring to the 777's development and testing being wholly reliant upon CAD. While other planes may have gone straight from the drafting board to build, the 777's entire assembly and build was digitally modeled before construction.

This sort of "virtual engineering" represents quite an achievement.

Here's some excerpts from the Boeing web site:

The Boeing 777 is the first jetliner to be 100 percent digitally designed using three-dimensional computer graphics. Throughout the design process, the airplane was "pre-assembled" on the computer, eliminating the need for a costly, full-scale mock-up.

Through innovative applications of computing technology, the 777 program exceeded its goal of reducing change, error and rework by 50 percent. Parts and systems have fit together better than anticipated and at the highest level of quality. The first 777 was just .023 of an inch -- about the thickness of a playing card -- within perfect alignment while most airplane parts line up to within a half inch to each other.

http://www.boeing.com/commercial/777family/background.html

Posted by Zenster 2005-11-10 20:31|| 2005-11-10 20:31|| Front Page Top

#5 Amazing. And I thought Qantas' 1989 747-400 London to Sydney nonstop flight was something....

Posted by Bomb-a-rama 2005-11-10 21:13|| 2005-11-10 21:13|| Front Page Top

#6 Zenster -

My apologies, didn't read quite far enough - a fascinating story!

Mike

Posted by Mike Kozlowski 2005-11-10 21:17|| 2005-11-10 21:17|| Front Page Top

#7 The good news is the pilots could sleep the whole time and it would make no difference in the flight. There is really no reason why the entire cockpit needs to be in the front of the plane. At some point they are going to have to consider the price people would pay to be in the "pilot's seat" in a plane with a glass front like the B-29 had. Now, that would be first class.

Posted by Threremble Fluling4051 2005-11-10 21:18|| 2005-11-10 21:18|| Front Page Top

#8 TF - I'm no pilot (dont even play one on TV) but I think pilots are going to want to be able to look out the window and *see* the runway when they land for a long time to come.

If only to make sure some idiot didn't leave a ceasna parked on the runway.

Posted by CrazyFool 2005-11-10 23:24|| 2005-11-10 23:24|| Front Page Top

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