The key flaw of Tu-144: the whole wing structure was *machined* from a single en...

sonthonax · on Aug 28, 2021

Really? Do you have a source for that? I’d like to read more.

baybal2 · on Aug 28, 2021

https://testpilot.ru/russia/tupolev/144/tu144_1.php

> Крыло самолета (удлинения 1,74 и сужения 7, многолонжеронной конструкции) состоит из основной и отъемных частей и имеет кессонную конструкцию с силовой нагруженной обшивкой в виде фрезерованных крупногабаритных панелей вафельной конструкции из высокопрочных алюминиевых сплавов.

"The wing consists of the main, and detachable part, and has a caisson construction with load carrying honeycomb panel skin machined from high strength aluminium alloy"

So, a correction there. The wing is made of two ennormous machined parts: the main wing, and the wing extension.

the-dude · on Aug 28, 2021

I don't speak Russian, but your claim does not follow from your translation. It could still be made from numerous honeycomb, machined parts.

_l4lu · on Aug 28, 2021

The Russian does in fact say the skin is made from large machined honeycomb panels (панели).

bserge · on Aug 28, 2021

I read it as "big machined honeycomb panels made out of high strength aluminum alloys"... So no mention of the actual size of a single panel.

Крупногабаритных just means "large/big sized".

avereveard · on Aug 28, 2021

Take that, Steve Jobs.