david0tey
Line Up and Wait
The sub-freezing temperatures this past week in VA have gotten me thinking. I obviously know the effect that cold air has on engine and aircraft performance, and also any problems you would encounter with icing. However, I have always wondered how the cold air affects the structural strength of the airplane. It seems to me that cold air would make certain structural aspects of an aircraft more brittle and easier to break, particularly high stress areas such as the landing gear. I have never understood how airliners fly at 35,000 feet where the air temperature can be -90F and it have no effect on the aircraft. This may be a dumb observation and I apologize if I am wasting your time. But, does the cold air affect the structural strength of the aircraft?