WIX Archives
Hard to say, in my opinion...
Posted by Jim on Tue Sep 17, 2002 07:09:03 PM
In reply top One for the real teccie guys! posted by Christer on Tue Sep 17, 2002 05:59:36 PM
when you consider that given the quality of the restorations done today, most airframes are better now than they were when they first came out of the factory. There will be far less corrosion, but metal is metal and it will fatigue at some point, more rapidly if it's put under stress. Was there any data collected during wartime? Or, was it just accepted that these airframes wouldn't last long enough to matter for their application and they were being replaced with new ones as rapidly as they were being lost/worn-out.
In some cases, technological advances in metal or better choices in material may be a factor. I recall reading somewhere that the fuselage longerons found in the P-51 were prone to corrosion, so new ones made with a more durable metal are used when the fuselage is rebuilt today.
: Anyone who knows the life expectancy of an airframe, say a
: Spitfire or Mustang, which has been totally rebuilt to ze
: ro airframe hours?
: Which will the difference be if it?s flown gently to 2-3 G
: 's rather than to 5 G's?
:
: Thanks in advance,
: Christer