Thunder charter last night
10-28-2017, 05:50 AM
#3
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Originally Posted by sailingfun
Looks like a radome implosion not a bird strike. It's happened before on the 757.
10-28-2017, 06:06 AM
#4
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Originally Posted by sailingfun
Looks like a radome implosion not a bird strike. It's happened before on the 757.
10-28-2017, 08:27 AM
#9
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Happens more often than you think. Radomes get a soft spot from prior damage or repair of just a poor layup of the glass when built. Over time they weaken and fail just like in the picture. I doubt they hit anything at 30,000 feet.
10-28-2017, 08:52 AM
#10
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Learned this one from a mechanic. Radomes can get pinhole perforations (dust, rain, hail, big bugs).
Sometimes, the fiberglass layup is such that water can get inside that pinhole. Climb to cruise, it freezes and expands...now a bigger crack.
Repeat enough times, and you have a weak spot.
He also said that when the radome has hidden water inside like that (widespread saturation), the radar will get numerous writeups for a weak return. Makes sense.
Sometimes, the fiberglass layup is such that water can get inside that pinhole. Climb to cruise, it freezes and expands...now a bigger crack.
Repeat enough times, and you have a weak spot.
He also said that when the radome has hidden water inside like that (widespread saturation), the radar will get numerous writeups for a weak return. Makes sense.
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