I'm starting to think the same thing!!

The Comet and the DC-10 were heralded as game-changers with cutting-edge technology, too. The Comet disasters are well-known, but (as far as I have read) De Havilland had no knowledge that there was a design flaw until the investigation proved it.

On the other hand, McDonnell knew for a while there was a problem with latching the cargo doors on the DC-10. One aircraft (American) was recovered (barely), and the other was a disaster. It wasn't until after the Turkish crash that the previous problems were publicly revealed.

Airbus knew that some A-330 pitot-static units could be iced-up in severe conditions, but I don't think it was widely disemminated. (Although there was an AD to replace them; it gave a long time-span to comply). Otherwise, the AF 447 crew might have known of the possibility, and how to deal with it.

The question of hardover rudder in the 737 cast serious doubt on the fleet ten years ago, but a certain operator (who only flies 737s) convinced the FAA the fleet didn't need to be grounded (because they would have lost money and//or gone out of business). The time to replace all the rudder actuators is on the order of 10 years, if I remember correctly.

The FAA, NTSB, airlines, and electronics manufacturers know that Lithium-Ion batteries can overheat and creat a sustainable fire that will not extinguish with current aircraft fire-suppresion systems. But no one has mandated that Li-I batteries be shipped only via surface transport, in fire-proof aircraft shipping containers. That would add weight, and would cost more money.

And now, Boeing is banking on the 787 to make them profitable well into the future (and indirectly, US business, since Boeing is one of our biggest foreign-sales industries). At least four inflight fires; one on its delivery flight!

My point: the recent fires suggest radical action is needed, on the order of what Britain did to the Comet: it lost its certificate until the investigation was complete.

But dollar$ seem to be more important than putting a few hundred lives at risk.