Would this plane have flown?

"george" wrote

Nowadays I'd wait for repairs but a neighbour spent 5 years driving
various two and four engined bombers over Occupied Europe and had a
series of photos of just how little you -really- need in the way of
contol surfaces

THEY had no choice, but to fly back home, while they were hit over enemy
territory. This fella did have a choice.

My take on it? He got lucky, and I'm glad he did.

I would say the chance of having a problem is low, less than 10%, most
likely. That means if 10 guys got hit like he did, one would not make it
home. Put in those terms, would you want to be that 1 out of 10? Even if
it was 1 out of 100, it would be too high, when there is a choice.

If it were me, I would have done as detailed inspection (removing access
covers, whatever) as possible. Perhaps, I even would have disconnected that
side at the yoke, or first belcrank, and bolted that aileron stationary.
Flutter scares the crap out of me.

Whatever, I would not have made any decision's based on what the insurance
company said.
--
Jim in NC

I don't think you would want to EVER disconnect a control surface. Do
others know more about this?

I don't think you EVER want to disconnect a control surface or even a
trim tab. Any Aero engrs out there want to comment?

On 2006-03-23, Morgans wrote:
Flutter scares the crap out of me.

I would strongly doubt (based on what I know) that there was even the
remotest chance of flutter. From what I understand, flutter would
require the flexing of the wing structure in such a way to cause the
whole thing to oscillate. This happens with experimental airframes (or
used to happen) because the whole surface or wing would warp under
aerodynamic loads in such a way that you'd get the oscillation. A dent
in a Mooney aileron isn't going to cause that.

--
Dylan Smith, Port St Mary, Isle of Man
Flying: http://www.dylansmith.net
Oolite-Linux: an Elite tribute: http://oolite-linux.berlios.de
Frontier Elite Universe: http://www.alioth.net

In article ,
says...
On 2006-03-23, Morgans wrote:
Flutter scares the crap out of me.

I would strongly doubt (based on what I know) that there was even the
remotest chance of flutter. From what I understand, flutter would
require the flexing of the wing structure in such a way to cause the
whole thing to oscillate. This happens with experimental airframes (or
used to happen) because the whole surface or wing would warp under
aerodynamic loads in such a way that you'd get the oscillation. A dent
in a Mooney aileron isn't going to cause that.

Yes it could - seen it for myself first hand - significant further
deteriotion occurred in-flight as a result of the flutter (that the
pilot could feel) - the pilot was very relieved to be on the ground
again - and won't be repeating the experience (why he didn't choose to
land at one of the several alternatives, we'll never know).

--
Duncan