Thread: Dumb & Dumber
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Old June 7th 06, 11:46 AM posted to rec.aviation.piloting
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Default Dumb & Dumber

On 2006-06-06, Stefan wrote:
That stabilizer is designed to stand much more twisting force than any
real life girl could ever apply to it.


Never underestimate the damage that can be caused by a point load at the
tip of a flight surface. I don't know about Cherokee stabilators and
girl point loads - but even a 1 mph tagging of a wingtip on a hangar can
bend spars on the inboard portion of the wing. Seemingly small point
loads on wingtips can cause all sorts of unseen damage. I believe
Highflyer has a story about a Taylorcraft spar and a compression
fracture he discovered in flight after a minor wingtip tagging incident.
Our club's C170 got a kinked aft spar after a minor wingtip tagging
incident.

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