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FYI: In the Off-Topic section there is now an updated report: the FAA will increase oversight of Boeing citing ‘other manufacturing problems’.
The latest update is 1/12/24, 10:16 AM (PST)
Some years ago we were all boarded on United and ready to leave Frankfurt for Sf. The pilots noticed that a small piece of metal on the wing appeared to be loose, and we all sat there while the local United mechanical guys did their best to temporar…
@hank- I dunno- remember how Ted very angrily called me out when I was posting about the software automation /two-crash fiasco. "The best aircraft manufacturer in the world- they'll be right back on top very soon, etc.
Following are edited excerpts from a current report in The Guardian:
Boeing is facing a formal investigation into whether it made sure 737 Max 9 planes were “in a condition for safe operation” after a cabin panel blew off during an Alaska Airlines …
FYI: In the Off-Topic section there is now an updated report regarding an F.A.A investigation into the Boeing 737 Max 9.
The latest update is 1/11/24, 1:09 PM (PST)
@Derf - Doesn't look like a roll pin to me- looks like the so-called "bolt" is simply a short piece of round bar stock with a head which is a larger diameter than the bar itself. The bar stock would have a small hole drilled through it near the end,…
@Sven- Hello therre- I am using the term "cotter pin" very loosely, as many people are familiar with that term. The actual bolt/pin setup on the 737 appears to be a part designed specifically for that application.
Well yes... perhaps the most impressive part is how they get the "bolt" through the hole since the bolt "head" is bigger than the bolt hole. (Picky, picky... it really is a decent graphic.)
Yes, it's sort of a dark silver colored piece- very short. The actual bolt has a small hole drilled through the end, and the locking (cotter?) pin is then pushed through that hole and typically bent a little to prevent it's sliding out again. It's s…
FYI: There is an updated report explaining the design and location of the so-called "bolts" that lock the door plug into position on the Boeing 737 Max-9.situation in the Off-Topic section.
Check my last post in that thread for the explanation.
T…
OK, finally this morning's Wall Street Journal (print edition) had a decent diagram and explanation regarding the so-called "bolts" that lock the door plug into position. But I can't find that anywhere in the WSJ on-line version, so I can't reproduc…
@hank- Well I did speculate a bit on that, above:
Well, this is really getting interesting, no? Let's see now... "This airplane seems to be doing something weird with the pressurization... maybe we better not send it out over the ocean... but I gues…
Our place on the Russian River has a small dock that our neighbors use to try for Steelhead trout, a local salmonid. I don't fish myself, but we've eaten some delicious fresh steelhead dinners when the fishermen have enough to share. I've seen some …
The Supremes tried to duck this one by sending it back down to the Appeals Court. Looks like it's being bounced right back upstairs to them with no time wasted.
Above, I've added a new graphic from the New York Times which purports to illustrate the location of the mysterious "bolts" which are receiving so much interest. However this new information only seems to muddy the waters even more.
It would be nice if when "management" moves a thread that they simply give us a short note within the thread as to why. At least we'd all have a better idea of what's going on. It's called "communication", folks. :)
And yet more on this, from The Washington Post:
The door plug that blew out of an Alaska Airlines flight over Portland, Ore., on Friday has been found in a schoolteacher’s backyard, amid investigations into the explosive depressurization accident th…
1/8: From PBS: Diagram of Boeing "Door Plug" and associated hardware fittings
1/9: From The New York Times: Partial Diagram of Boeing "Door Plug" and associated hardware fittings
Note that the NY Times diagram identifies two fittings as "Lo…
I have to say that if (at this time) over 140 of you have looked at this post and only one of you has been able to help, then I don't feel nearly as stupid as I did when I asked for help on this.
"the optional door/exit area was "sealed"/"plugged" in this model? So, was that construction glue that didn't hold? "
Most likely this whole thing will come down to one of the following situations:
• 1) The design and specification of the fuselage…
"Has man ever invented anything that wasn’t eventually turned to illegal, evil or destructive use?"
@hank - I'm still thinking about that... not doing too good.
Sometimes, reading what all of you folks say, I feel like I'm eavesdropping on a convention of alchemists and necromancers discussing what ingredients to throw into the big black kettles.
@Crash- Surely this thread must hold the all-time MFO record for the longest time in continuous activity, and likely a number of other things too: for instance, the number of participating MFO members:
AndyJ December 2023
Art May 2022
B…
"Old_Joe has likely beat me to the punch in linking to it."
@WABAC - No sir, not this time. A great link, though- a real "warning shot across the bow". It looks like not only will AI tools be used by humans for nefarious purposes, but evidently AI …
I dunno... I have gotten to the point where I really hate almost everything about flying. I sure hear you with respect to the kid behind me kicking the seat back, but then when deplaning and wading through the garbage pit that once was a nice-lookin…
