And what country can preserve its liberties if their rulers are not warned from time to time that their people preserve the spirit of resistance? Let them take arms. The remedy is to set them right as to facts, pardon and pacify them. What signify a few lives lost in a century or two? The tree of liberty must be refreshed from time to time with the blood of patriots and tyrants.
It isn't when you don't overcomplicate, under-engineer, or under-build something which determines the lifespan of the end user, let alone 500+ people.
Ask Boeing how their Dreamliner sales are going, then look into combat availability of F-35s, after reading Great Moments In Space Shuttle Construction.
The point of good engineering is to, as much as possible, engineer the crapshoot factor out of the end product, not into it. Exciting is sketchy. Boring is good. And one good failure can live on for centuries. {cf. RMS Titanic, LZ Hindenburg, the Tacoma Narrows Bridge, and Shuttle Challenger, all Hall Of Shame Engineering Masterpieces.}
I'm sure a lot of smart guys designed that landing gear. It just strikes me as a wee bit too exciting. YMMV.
C5A Galaxy, first flown in 1968 and expected to be in service until 2040. At its maximum weight of 850,000lbs each wheel supports 15 tons. Al_in_Ottawa
Fun part is trying to pick it up off its belly when they get stuck in the wells. Jack points are all in the fuselage. Airbags under the wings would have to be massive.
Pilots no slouch, either.
ReplyDeleteDrop, twist, land, snap!
ReplyDeleteWhen it works: Aces!
ReplyDeleteThat one time in ten thousand it doesn't: O $#/^!
That's pretty much applicable for any piece of machinery.
DeleteIt isn't when you don't overcomplicate, under-engineer, or under-build something which determines the lifespan of the end user, let alone 500+ people.
DeleteAsk Boeing how their Dreamliner sales are going, then look into combat availability of F-35s, after reading Great Moments In Space Shuttle Construction.
The point of good engineering is to, as much as possible, engineer the crapshoot factor out of the end product, not into it. Exciting is sketchy. Boring is good. And one good failure can live on for centuries. {cf. RMS Titanic, LZ Hindenburg, the Tacoma Narrows Bridge, and Shuttle Challenger, all Hall Of Shame Engineering Masterpieces.}
I'm sure a lot of smart guys designed that landing gear.
It just strikes me as a wee bit too exciting.
YMMV.
Pretty much 1950s technology (B52 has similar setup)
ReplyDeleteC5A Galaxy, first flown in 1968 and expected to be in service until 2040. At its maximum weight of 850,000lbs each wheel supports 15 tons.
ReplyDeleteAl_in_Ottawa
Fun part is trying to pick it up off its belly when they get stuck in the wells. Jack points are all in the fuselage. Airbags under the wings would have to be massive.
DeleteAre the wheels on the landing gear brought up to speed before touch down or are they spun up from zero on contact?
ReplyDelete