* AIRPLANE CORROSION OF THE WEEK *
I was inspired to add in a different sort of corrosion this week as I have been linked by Aviatrix from Cockpit Conversations in her most recent Post about Corrosion. Amazingly enough, she happens to be a pilot that is actually interested in the maintenance end of her aircraft.... 'Tis a beautiful quality indeed!
Anyhow, back to my captivating looking bit of metal breakdown......
This is actually a perfect example of Magnesium corrosion at an attach point of a flap actuator mechanism on a Boeing 727.
Magnesium is used quite a lot in the thick casted parts and has a telltale dark colored pitting style of corrosion that is hard to realize it's full extent until it gets cleaned properly. I have actually seen magnesium pit all the way through and still keep its strength and not crack. This damage seen above was probably a combination of dissimilar metals and dirt, water,and/or salt getting underneath the washer of the attaching Bolt.
- An amusing little tidbit about rotted out magnesium castings such as this. - When labeled NFG, originally they will find their final resting place in the scrap metal bin... But, more times than not, are rescued and taken camping, thrown in a blazing fire that will end up eventually blinding the fellow campers as typically magnesium burns brighter than the sun. Fun and Games for Everyone!
Alas! - Its better to burn out than to rot away.....
posted by Connie @ 12:49 AM
9 Comments:
This is fascinating, why did I not visit sooner!
Looking forward to more corrosion action in the future.
You rule.
Welcome edwaado! I have admired your pictures via The Angry Chimp and Cakesniffers before.... I am glad you find corrosion just as fascinating as me. I will do my best to keep you enthralled.
Lisa, I remember doing that magnesium stuff in sciences... although I have not witnessed the magnesium airplane part in the fire... I hear that it is crazy bright and kids love it....
probably would damage your poor little eyeballs is what I'm thinking....
Connie, how did you get into your job? It sounds a corker and I'm really jealous.
I did a fair bit of chemistry at school and university - the fun you can have with the alkaline earth metals it something else. Are they called that? Jeez, can't remember - sodium and all them that you have to keep under oil because they oxidise.
I can't be the first person to say this but what the hell is going on here? Arrggh! Call me madcap, but I don't want fascinating aircraft component corrosion! No! I want dull aircraft non-corroded at all in the slightest components. And lots of them. In fact, all of them.
I am never flying again.
Uh, well, not in an aircraft. Ahem. Toowit toowoo?
"plans a safe form of rapid transit"
Plans? I don't want plans! Much respect to the utterly fantastic connie, but, I mean, plans??? *shudder*
Drat those e stealing co-workers! Have they nothing better to do?
The aircraft corrosion is there, whether you look for it or not. You better be grateful that it's being looked for, and found and fixed.
I expect all pilots are interested in the maintenance end of the aircraft, but there is some kind of inbred antipathy setting pilots and mx in opposition. A mechanical AME student I know says that he and his classmates are taught to disdain pilots -- I suppose it's to protect them from being in awe of pilots and believing our opinions about the mx status of our aircraft.
You know, to be completly honest I am in awe of pilots...I secretly want to be one.... I was being a bit cheeky and facetious about the whole pilot/ maintenance interest thing exactly for perpetual "Them vs. Us" reasons. Truth be known we do and must work together to keep these things in the air... even if it can be a love-hate thing from time to time ;)
Cheers Aviatrix... nothing but respect here.
Oh and Tina I got into the whole Aircraft Maintenance thing because I actually really like airplanes and it was of interest to me. I actually come from a long line of pilots, - my one Grandad flew fighters in WW2 for the RAF and my other grandfather was actually killed piloting a small cessna aircraft crash when I was little. I've always had a bit of a facination and I would also like to fly one day, but after what happened to my grandad it's not been a popular choice with my family.
I've never been one to be an office worker, and I enjoy working with both my brains and my hands, So Structural Maintenance Engineer is what I chose.
I joke alot about grinding corrosion, but I do a lot more technical stuff than that most of the time...
I seriously have taken whole sections of aircraft apart and put them back together. It is so rewarding to see that sucker fly away after you literally had it in pieces.
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