Boeing tanker won?

**Chogy** · 17 Mar 11,, 15:13

I freely admit to being an irrational fan-boy when it comes to Boeing, and want to see a fleet of new Boeing tankers purely for the sake of giving business to a respected and honored U.S. contractor. But no doubt either company could produce a superb tanker.

One issue: The latest transports have higher than ever amounts of composite structural components. These are fine for civilian transport use, but I wonder how maintainable they would be for the military. Aluminum is simple - rivet a patch on it. But ding a composite surface (or being forced to deal with battle damage) and you'll need an entirely new set of skills. Not impossible, but a bit more challenging.

I also believe Airbus would have to re-write some of the flight control laws they normally build into their designs, as I don't think they'd be acceptable to military operators as they currently exist.

**jlvfr** · 17 Mar 11,, 18:12

Originally Posted by Chogy

One issue: The latest transports have higher than ever amounts of composite structural components. These are fine for civilian transport use, but I wonder how maintainable they would be for the military. Aluminum is simple - rivet a patch on it. But ding a composite surface (or being forced to deal with battle damage) and you'll need an entirely new set of skills. Not impossible, but a bit more challenging.

Funny you should mention this...

I just finished reading an article (Air International, which I then promply lost on the subway :( ) about this. Apparently, both Airbus and Boeing are reviewing the materials used for their next generation airliners (10-15 years time), specifically replacements for B737-class. Since these airliners land/takeoff a lot more times than their bigger cousins, they are more vulnerable to all the minor dings, nudges and touches of a civilian airport. A dented metal skin can even be ignored (apprently), and a small hole easily fixed. The same doesn't happen in a composite skin. So the builders are taking hard looks at new aluminium-lithium aloys...