Looking at the wings while flying
Jan 16, 2015 | 3:44 pm
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Nov 2002
Location: New York City
Posts: 4,024
Looking at the wings while flying
I had a recent trip where I got a window seat instead of my usual aisle. If I don't want to get up, I don't mind it for a flight of 2-3 hours. But my seat was adjacent to the wing, and I couldn't help observing in detail little scratches and imperfections and dings in it.
Obviously the plane proceeded without difficulty, but does it ever make you nervous to get too good a view of the wing?
Obviously the plane proceeded without difficulty, but does it ever make you nervous to get too good a view of the wing?
Jan 16, 2015 | 4:13 pm
#4
Join Date: Apr 2007
Posts: 501
Jan 16, 2015 | 4:29 pm
#5
Join Date: Jan 2013
Location: Orange County, CA (SNA)
Programs: Delta - DM , MM; Hilton - Plat, Marriott - Peon
Posts: 971
I am always amazed how flexible those things are, and how they bounce around during flight. I know it’s safe, and by design, but it still unnerves me sometimes!
Jan 16, 2015 | 6:52 pm
#8
Join Date: Jul 2012
Programs: Delta Gold, Alaska Gold 75K, LATAM Black
Posts: 3,393
Jan 16, 2015 | 9:12 pm
#9
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Dec 2000
Location: PHL
Programs: AA PLT, UA SLV, MR LTT, HH LTD
Posts: 10,736
Looking at the wings while flying
They're designed to withstand forces the plane should never encounter in flight. Check out this wing stress test of a 777. It should put anyone's mind at ease if there's any concern over some wobbling...
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=Ai2HmvAXcU0
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=Ai2HmvAXcU0
Jan 16, 2015 | 10:20 pm
#10
Join Date: Nov 2005
Location: on the path to perdition
Programs: Delta, United
Posts: 5,014
FWIW wings can have around 1/4" in deviation without affecting their performance (In my undergraduate days I did study on the rivet height vs being flush). As for the wing movement as long as the deformation stays with in the elastic limit and does not get too many cycles there is nothing to worry about.
If you look at the design of some wings like that on the Dreamliner they have curl to them on the ground but flex a huge amount when in the air:
BTW If you are concerned with material flex in the transportation world - worry about bridges. Something like 10% of the bridges in USA are structurally deficient.
If you look at the design of some wings like that on the Dreamliner they have curl to them on the ground but flex a huge amount when in the air:
BTW If you are concerned with material flex in the transportation world - worry about bridges. Something like 10% of the bridges in USA are structurally deficient.
Last edited by FlyingUnderTheRadar; Jan 16, 2015 at 10:26 pm
Jan 17, 2015 | 2:01 am
#11
Original Poster
Join Date: Nov 2002
Location: New York City
Posts: 4,024
I completely agree, and actually when I am walking across bridges, as I do sometimes, I have the same effect. As for the wings on the planes, clearly they can take a lot, so logically it never worries me, but some part of me would like them to look perfectly pristine.
Jan 19, 2015 | 9:12 am
#15
Join Date: Jun 2007
Location: gggrrrovvveee (ORD)
Programs: UA Pt, Marriott Ti, Hertz PC, Avis PC
Posts: 6,095
