How a 50-year design came back to haunt Boeing with its troubled 737 Max jet

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Boeing's decision to continue modernizing the 737, rather than starting at some point with a clean design, resulted in engineering challenges that created unforeseen risks.

A set of stairs may have never caused so much trouble in an aircraft.

The crisis comes after 50 years of remarkable success in making the 737 a profitable workhorse. Today, the aerospace giant has a massive backlog of more than 4,700 orders for the jetliner and its sales account for nearly a third of Boeing’s profit. Today’s 737 is a substantially different system from the original. Boeing strengthened its wings, developed new assembly technologies and put in modern cockpit electronics. The changes allowed the 737 to outlive both the Boeing 757 and 767, which were developed decades later and then retired.

Andrew Skow, founder of Tiger Century Aircraft, which develops cockpit safety systems, and a former Northrop Grumman chief engineer, said Boeing has had a good record modernizing the 737. But he said, “They may have pushed it too far.” Ethiopia sent “black box” recording devices recovered from the crashed jet to France for analysis, after refusing to hand them over to U.S. authorities. The U.S. National Transportation Safety Board still plans to send investigators to France to help its Bureau of Inquiry and Analysis for Civil Aviation Safety.

By comparison, the LEAP-1b engines on the Max 8 have a diameter of 69 inches, nearly 20 inches more than the original. There wouldn’t be enough clearance without some kind of modification. The change, however, affected the plane’s aerodynamics. Boeing discovered the new position of the engines increased the lift of the aircraft, creating a tendency for the nose to pitch up.

 

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Oh boy, an opinion article presented as fact, based on theories by an aviation injury lawyer with a lot to gain by pushing his opinions as fact. Wait for the crash report.

Could there be a secrete anti-highjack system that they intentionally have not trained or even told pilots that it exists 737MAX8

Pilots need to learn the cockpit controls as seen in flight simulators

Use hybrids

almost like realDonaldTrump may have been on to something a few days ago, right benshapiro?

Shocking cut corner attitude

Today’s 737 is a substantially different system from the original. Boeing strengthened its wings, developed new assembly technologies and put in modern cockpit electronics.

Just needs a software fix. It’s not fundamentally unairworthy.

A thorough investigation is necessary. Let's get Muller on the case.

This industry should pay damages to everyone harmed. This is what i will call Capitalistic Negligence (saving and making money regardless of life). I believe investors should be held accountable as well. They made it happen with their investments.

I think it was said that input was provided from a single sensor, its cost cutting like this that endangers life, as an engineer I cannot imagine a safety system tied to a single sensor. your car has 4 sensors , 2 of which are cameras just to make sure you are in your lane

Why wasn't the fuselage redesigned for the larger engines? Profits?

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Boeing says 737 Max fleet to get software upgrade as more nations ground jetsFaced with concerns over the safety of the Boeing jet that has crashed twice in less than six months, the FAA said the crafts are airworthy but it is examining crash data. I mean you can fly the plane its just a question as to if it continues to fly. OH well.. that's not going to go down with the passengers I bet.
Source: NBCNews - 🏆 10. / 86 Read more »