Some Further Practical Points in the Structural Design ofAircraft

Extract

The surest way of improving the design of aircraft structures appears to be by anextension of the “team spirit,” whereby the experience andknowledge of everyone engaged in the craft are pooled and focussed on anyproblem requiring solution

For instance, when a pilot flies a machine he discovers its good and bad points,and, knowingly or unknowingly, compares it instinctively with every othermachine he has flown On returning to earth he naturally communicates his opinionto others In the course of time his views reach the ears of the designer, who,also, naturally adapts the design to meet any criticism The ultimate result isthat the experience of every pilot, and not only of every pilot, but ofeverybody dealing with the aeroplane, is gradually pooled for the purpose ofimproving the design

It is to be noted that it is usually extremely difficult or impossible tointerpretate this experience mathematically, because there are too many unknownfactors operating