Originally Posted by
conspiratemus1
But how is that really old aluminum aircraft like DC-3s are still able to fly safely? I know they get treated really gently and lovingly by their owners but still....they've outlived most of the people who were born when they were built. Then there are the B-52Hs that are still racking up millions of flying hours on active service 50 years after the last one rolled out of Boeing's factory. Do the aluminum airframe components get replaced?
The analogy between bicycle frames and airplanes, while
still valid I think, is a little too strained for me to belabor it.
DC-3's are a unique case, and the ones still flying owe the
fact to a huge number of militarily surplussed aircraft for
parts scrounging, a generally rugged and simple to repair
design, and a slightly different definition of "safely".
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of...lving_the_DC-3
I have no doubts at all that 50 years from now there
will exist a hard core cadre of "classic aluminum framed"
bicycle lovers who will be arguing ad infinitum with regard
to the best way to repair something like the frame here
in question. Each to each, de gustibus non disputandum.
