For Jack - finding cracks in things and building planes

This is stuff that my friend jack would find interesting:

MIT's handheld FAR-NDT device sees cracks in structures

Posted May 22nd 2007 9:26AM by Darren Murph
Filed under: Transportation

We've already seen radars come in handy when dodging impending attacks and avoiding accidents, but researchers at MIT are utilizing the technology to make sure our roadways and structures aren't pushed beyond their limits. A newfangled handheld device uses FAR-NDT (far-field airborne radar nondestructive testing) in order to "see through the fiberglass-polymer wrapping often used to strengthen aging concrete columns to detect damage behind the wrapping not visible to the naked eye." Furthermore, the technique can be executed from about 30 feet away and "requires no dismantling or obstruction of the infrastructure" in order to provide instant feedback. Unsurprisingly, creators are suggesting that it will be best used on bridges and piers which are typically difficult to carefully inspect, and while there's no word on when this stuff will hit DOT offices nationwide, current prototypes are panning out quite well.

[Via Physorg]

http://tinyurl.com/3cpc4a

Boeing 787 LEGO-like Building Begins, Kicks Airbus Nuts 3,110 Views

Boeing has started building their new flagship: the 787 Dreamliner. The cool thing about the 787 is that it only requires them to put together six big composite parts to build the final airframe and operators don't have to use huge tools and overhead cranes: all the parts can be slid along on the construction floor and put together like giant LEGO pieces. Check the gallery for pictures of the delivery and assembly of the sections and hit the jump for more details.

dreamliner

The six huge finished parts, the forward, center and aft fuselage sections, the wings, the horizontal stabilizer and the vertical fin, are going to be carried in their huge Dreamlifter from factories in Japan, Italy, South Carolina and Kansas. The Boeing Dreamlifter, as you can see in the gallery, is one of the largest cargo planes in the world.

According to Boeing, they will complete their first 787 in July 8, 2007 while everyone at Airbus are still scratching their heads wondering what the heck happened with their ill-fated and permanently delayed world's largets flying gadget. The 787 is the "fastest-selling airplane in aviation history," and even while I'm european, I'm happy to see it rolling out the factory for two reasons: one, because I like great airplanes and two, because those eurocrats at Airbus needed a kick up the butt. – JESUS DIAZ

http://tinyurl.com/32asov