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Reply To: Farnborough 2008 Orders!!

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#524785
old shape
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Ah No – The Northrop Grumman B2 was the first large A/c with a primary structure made in CFRP and it has a significantly higher CFRP mass fraction. Both its MTOW and wing span exceed A400M. Also, and this may surprise some, military A/C airworthiness & airframe safety assessments take no credit for the ejection seat.

I’ll have to take your word on the B2, I’m positive it had metal Spars, as I saw the machining centre used to mill them, at Northrop Grumman Dallas works. The CFRP mass fraction is bound to be greater on the Spirit, it has no body and the rest of the skin is carbon.
However, if it had carbon skins it must have had carbon spars….the expansion differences prevent mixing the two. Hmm, I need to look into that B2, have you got a reference for the construction details?
Airbus Mil. claim that A400 is the first large A/c with primary structure made of CFRP.

I know about the ejection seat, all that does is save the crew – fortunate enough to have it – when he hits the “Mummy!” handle. The airworthiness is to ensure the machine doesn’t fall out of the sky on our houses.

And, people say that carbon doesn’t burn, fires are no problem.
They are correct, carbon fibres will not burn at any sensible temperature. The resin that hold it together will be wet and runny at 220C. If an engine fire gets into the wing, Death (And his cat) will be on your shoulder.
(There is a LARGE titanium firewall betwixt the firezone and the plastic so prey it will never happen)