Uneasy with the Boeing 787 Dreamliner

Boeing has had a tough time getting the first production 787 Dreamliner planes delivered. Some of the recent problems have involved the composite materials used in the construction of the fuselage and wings.

Ordinarily, I’m all for the use of new technologies and new materials. The carbon composites being used in the 787 are significantly stronger than aluminum for the same weight, which for airplanes is a good thing. What makes me uneasy about them is how they fail. Metals like aluminum bend and eventually tear, but the failure tends to take time for the bending or tearing, while composite materials tend to fail totally, splintering or shattering when the failure point is reached. Planes made by Airbus with composite materials forming the tails have had issues that appear to be related to how the composite materials fail.

While I know the FAA certification process is very thorough, I’m still not certain I’d like to fly on a 787. I hope I’m not turning into a luddite…

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