Asianometry How the Computer Helped the Boeing 787 Soar
18 snips
Jul 20, 2025 The Boeing 787 is a marvel of modern engineering, showcasing innovative design amidst a digitized world. This aircraft utilizes advanced composite materials to achieve impressive efficiency and aerodynamic performance. The podcast dives deep into how these materials revolutionized wing design, significantly reducing weight. It also highlights the challenges and triumphs of integrating computational methods like Computational Fluid Dynamics to optimize the aircraft. An exploration of how cutting-edge technology redefines the future of aviation!
AI Snips
Chapters
Transcript
Episode notes
Hub-and-Spoke Fueled Boeing's Success
- The hub-and-spoke route system maximizes destinations covered with fewer routes, lowering airline costs.
- Boeing's 747 profits from hub-and-spoke subsidized their other models, sustaining their dominance for decades.
Shift From Hub-And-To Point-To
- Hub-and-spoke's complexity, congestion, and passenger preference for direct flights exposed its weaknesses.
- Airlines shifted from large 747s to smaller, more efficient planes with longer range.
Composites Transform 787 Design
- The 787 uses extensive composites for lighter, corrosion-resistant structures, enhancing fuel efficiency.
- Composites make up 50% of weight and 80% of volume, far greater than previous planes like the 777.