Mitsubishi Chooses Metal

The American giant civil air craft manufacturer opted for greater use of advanced composites on Boeing 787 Dream Liner to get reduction of 30 to 40000 lbs weight over metallic structure.

Subsequent events proved that Boeing were overtly optimistic.

After the air craft role out it became clear from ground testing that wing boxes made out of non metallic composites require extensive strengthening embarrassingly delaying the out put schedules and largely negating the weight advantage.

Mitsubishi who are major sub contractor for Boeing must have taken the cue and naturally want to play safe by opting for time tested aluminum alloys over composites for their regional jet design.

It is oblivious the bitter lessons from Boeing of the weaknesses of composite structure and their known characteristic to fail with out warning, must have made Mitsubishi to play safe.

There can little doubt that advanced composite will definitely play its complimentary role in aviation design after thorough understanding of its long term characteristics.