A B-29 landed safely after one of its propellers broke during flight and carved a good-sized hole in the adjacent fuselage. The pilot successfully made an emergency landing. The B-29 was a sturdy design with tolerances calculated to allow flight even with two engines gone and, in case of an even more dire emergency, with three engines out of order. While this hole appears catastrophic, the fuselage was well prepared to absorb such damage.
Hey! Anyone see a propeller in there?
ReplyDeleteModern aircraft are not built to the same tolerances.
ReplyDeleteOk, not quite true. Warthogs are.
DeleteWe are gonna need more duct tape.
ReplyDeleteThis kind of thing took out a P3 over the Strait of Hormuz about 20 years ago. The blade opened up the underside of the plane and slashed the flight controls. It let down in the Strait and was later salvaged and left at Fujairah as a warning to others... or something.
ReplyDeletethat'll buff out
ReplyDelete