Troy Whistman said:
NickDBrennan said:OK, I think its time I asked. How do the pilots get into those seats?
Bill Jennings said:Obviously, the "bendy" wings are a feature. What advantage is offered by wings that take that bend when loaded?
fgcason said:Bend or snap. Choose one.
Greg Bockelman said:Frank has it pretty much right. If they didn't bend, they would break. The wingtips on the 777 are significantly higher than the fuselage at gross weights in flight.
They move something like 17 feet IIRC in flight.
Bill Jennings said:I know they must bend, but I'm comparing the latest birds to early birds like 727's, 707's, and it seems the wing tips did not bend up as much in flight (on a percentage basis) as the ones on the newer planes./QUOTE]
It is a function of wingspan, I think. I also think that the fact that the 727/707/737 doesn't look like they bend that much is an illusion created by the fact that the wings are not as long.
Bill Jennings said:I know they must bend, but I'm comparing the latest birds to early birds like 727's, 707's, and it seems the wing tips did not bend up as much in flight (on a percentage basis) as the ones on the newer planes.
If this is true, what is the advantages? Thinner lighter wings carry the loads with improved fuel economy? Improved ride in turb?
Richard said:Also, you can hardly compare 707s or 727s to the max payload of a widebody. I would think amount of wing bending would be a function of max wt as well as the other things already mentioned.
Richard said:Observing tall trees in a stiff wind are another example.