Aircraft with collapsible wings ?
Oct 1, 2016, 3:45 am
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Dec 2009
Posts: 552
Aircraft with collapsible wings ?
Virtually birds have collapsible wings. Saves lots of space when not in flight.
Why is this not possible in aircraft ?
That would save lots of space at airport terminals, or increase airport capacity greatly.
It goes wingless to the runway, then it deploys the wings + engines in it and takes off.
But there should be reasons that this is not feasible, but what ?
Why is this not possible in aircraft ?
That would save lots of space at airport terminals, or increase airport capacity greatly.
It goes wingless to the runway, then it deploys the wings + engines in it and takes off.
But there should be reasons that this is not feasible, but what ?
Oct 1, 2016, 4:19 am
#2
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Apr 2001
Location: MEL CHC
Posts: 20,990
Its it very expensive and has major enginnering design issues.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_o...ed_States_Navy
Oct 1, 2016, 4:30 am
#3
Join Date: Sep 2015
Programs: LH SEN; BA Gold
Posts: 8,402
It is possible but there hasn't been any need to do it. Mainly because it's a nightmare to design, construct, use, and maintain. Compared to the wings of small military aircrafts, commercial airliners have considerably bigger and heavier wings, that carry huge amounts of fuel.
Given that most airports usually don't have parking issues, it's really a no-brainer to dismiss the idea altogether. Why get an expensive and complex fix for a problem that doesn't exist or that occurs once a month?
Boeing is only doing it on the 777X in order to fit in the 80x80 box, not to actually save space.
Given that most airports usually don't have parking issues, it's really a no-brainer to dismiss the idea altogether. Why get an expensive and complex fix for a problem that doesn't exist or that occurs once a month?
Boeing is only doing it on the 777X in order to fit in the 80x80 box, not to actually save space.
Oct 2, 2016, 4:56 am
#4
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jun 2012
Programs: BA Gold, QF WP
Posts: 12,551
Virtually birds have collapsible wings. Saves lots of space when not in flight.
Why is this not possible in aircraft ?
That would save lots of space at airport terminals, or increase airport capacity greatly.
It goes wingless to the runway, then it deploys the wings + engines in it and takes off.
But there should be reasons that this is not feasible, but what ?
Why is this not possible in aircraft ?
That would save lots of space at airport terminals, or increase airport capacity greatly.
It goes wingless to the runway, then it deploys the wings + engines in it and takes off.
But there should be reasons that this is not feasible, but what ?
You seem to like posting a lot of odd questions..
