TIL the 1st jet airliner passed extreme tests yet broke up in normal flight b/c the tests actually made it stronger. A 2x overpressure test on the prototype Comet strengthened it through "cold-working," making it last longer. Production Comets, lacking stress testing, wore out much faster.
https://www.faa.gov/lessons_learned/transport_airplane/accidents/G-ALYV#:~:text=…
#til #todayilearned
https://www.reddit.com/r/todayilearned/comments/1gcdgvl/til_the_1st_jet_airliner_passed_extreme_tests_yet/
https://www.faa.gov/lessons_learned/transport_airplane/accidents/G-ALYV#:~:text=…
#til #todayilearned
https://www.reddit.com/r/todayilearned/comments/1gcdgvl/til_the_1st_jet_airliner_passed_extreme_tests_yet/
De Havilland DH-106 Comet 1
The de Havilland Comet 1 Aircraft experienced a series of inflight breakups before it was discovered that the fuselage fatigue life was far shorter than testing had revealed.www.faa.gov
