Why don't the wings break?!

[@yetidynamics]

my grand mother was a metallurgist, and worked with failure analysis for aircraft, and rockets among other things, and she and her young son (my uncle) were on a flight once and my uncle, a child at the time, was nervous and concerned about the wing flexing, and asked my grandmother, "why do the wings flex" and my grandmother rather nonchalantly said "because if they didn't, they would break".

[@mikefoehr235]

Yup...is called beam deflection. I studied that in college. If the beam does not deflect, it will usually lead to a trip to the cemetery. A beam must deflect a certain amount based on the expected load it will see. There is two loads...static which is equilibrium and then dynamic. For any engineer, this concept is very very important.

[@seraphina985]

@@mikefoehr235 Indeed ships are another great example of this, the way something like a container ship or similar bends and flexes during a storm as it contorts to conform to the changing shape of the water surface beneath it would seem shocking to the unitiated those things can flex and conform to the changing shape of the water they float on almost as though the very steel they were made from was water itself.

[@mikefoehr235]

@@seraphina985 You are so very correct. The most unsettling thing is to be stuck on a bridge while waiting for a green light and feeling the bridge gently rise up and down as the beams deflect.

[@jalabi99]

+yeti dynamics Your grandma is a bad-ass :)

[@yetidynamics]

@@jalabi99 she kinda was, she was also hired by the navy to train a girl to do the voice overs in one of the nuclear submarines, but the girl had a hard time with a lot of the technical words, so they just had my grandmother do it instead. So my grandmother is the computer voice in various nuclear submarines

[@martymcgill1312]

As a country boy from a small town in 1979 I was flying to Germany in the Army on a DC-10. Sitting over the wing watching the thing flap like a sick bird over the ocean, I was terrified. Great video.

[@scotttixiermusic]

You are an incredible teacher! There is absolutely no reason for me to watch your videos but I became obsessed with your story telling. CAPTIVATING!

[@DaveSCameron]

Have to agree here, learnt or natural he's an epic teller. ❤️🙏

[@id364]

He has the same story telling talent as Mr Ballen, who wouldv'e thought that being a pilot and having the talent to tell a story can go hand in hand.?

[@teytreet7358]

I always thought the wings were quite flexible because we see them shaking and bouncing in flight. But during one of our university class, we got an entire class of about 50 people to stand on a wing of a retired 727 and we all jump to try to bounce it. The thing didn't even budge.

[@senseisecurityschool9337]

Yeah "flexible" is a relative term when you're talking about a 950,000 pound plane. For aerodynamic reasons, designers don't want the wing to flex more than necessary. They want it to flex before it breaks, but not more than needed.

[@WJS774]

Yeah, the maximum takeoff weight of a 727 is over 70 tons. 50 people standing on it is _nothing_ compared to that.

[@user-xq2fz5tz9t]

​@@WJS774 50... AMERICANS. They'll weigh at least 120 tons combined.

[@nathanieldesanctis7790]

​@@user-xq2fz5tz9tlmao

[@Lalalasky123]

Honestly, your vids have taken the edge off my anxiety of plane travel because I have my questions answered! thank you! from Honolulu

[@NFSHeld]

About flexing, you can also think about twigs/branches. Take a completely dry, wooden branch, about as thick as your thumb. You'll find it doesn't flex very much, since all "softening" moisture has evaporated. Try to bend it - it'll snap in half pretty quickly at the point of lowest structural integrity. Then take a fresh branch of the same diameter. It's likely flexing a lot. Try to bend it, you'll find it bends a long way before breaking. That is because the forces have been distributed as deformation stress along the whole curved surfaces.

[@srinitaaigaura]

Stress happens when there is resistance to movement.

[@kirkhenry3867]

If you were not a pilot, I think you would make an outstanding teacher. Very informative and you make the complex easier to understand.

[@bartgacrama2295]

He is a flight instructor.

[@voornaam3191]

@@bartgacrama2295 You have control.

[@m.a.r1982]

Kirk Henry is he your daddy? He is a nice teacher

[@Turbo_Tastic]

He'd make a great "mentor"... but not sure what "mentour" is supposed to mean? And "aluminium" instead of "aluminum" ... I guess it is a British thing? Kind of like when people say "Prince Andrew" what they really are saying is "pedophile"

[@justinsarchive4111]

Maryville, Missouri represent

[@karstensiegmarsson5304]

Japanese saying: If it does not flex, it will break. I´m a pilot myself, as for this I really like your informative uploads, very nice.

[@sergeykyrpa1126]

That is perfect sir..being a pilot is my dream thought I know it can not be for filled . .God bless you

[@youtubecomments5951]

It it’s pushed beyond its designed load it will break.

[@NoTraceOfSense]

@@sergeykyrpa1126 Sure it can be fulfilled.

[@NoTraceOfSense]

@@youtubecomments5951 The FAA says they gotta go beyond the design load without breaking; 50% over, to be exact.

[@youtubecomments5951]

NoTraceOfSense yeah so it’s designed to handle more than nessesary. If it goes beyond the designed load it will fail but of course in regular flight and then some it will almost never reached the over designed load especially since it’s 50% more than it will ever use.

[@lubricator]

You are an excellent teacher with hand movements and facial expressions that are perfectly in sync to emphasize the instruction, which help us keep our attention focused. Thank you!

[@Lvdentalmktg]

I absolutely love your dog... Thank you for the detailed description of wings! I fly a few times a year. I'm currently in a YT rabbit hole about airplanes and crashes. I don't know anything about physics, aviation or the like. You are a very skilled teacher...thank you again!

[@bluecoffee8414]

I'm sure you know the series "Air Crash Investigations" right? You can find some on YT some on daily motion and virtually all linked on the subreddit with the same name

[@EricBishard]

having traveled Lufthansa a few times now, I am so much more relaxed when my pilot sounds just like this guy. And I'm not talking just accent, but choice of words, etc.. I know this is weird, but I would trust this guy on any plane.

[@galefeynman9796]

Eric Bishard I know if I ever find myself on a flight he is in control of I will feel 100 percent confident that I am in the safest plane in the sky at that moment.

[@kundigan5748]

I think the same too... When the co-pilot stutter their words i feel like I am at risk

[@drgeisser]

He doesn't have a German accent, though.

[@samkahill2845]

@@drgeisser he is Swedish, he said so in several of his videos.

[@batvenio3533]

Yes its true.

[@adi45713]

Throughout the video I was looking at the dog & its varied reactions. At one point it got startled because of “whoosh” sound you made. Great video, as always!

[@michaelposford2613]

While I was in the Air Force, we visited an aircraft manufacturer, building the new fighter. At one point, they were discussing the problem of stress cracks in the wing. A company janitor was nearby and he said that he might have a solution to the problem by drilling a line of small holes along the suspected crack line. He said that, in his experience, the toilet paper never tore along the dotted line.

[@barrybritcher]

They do actually drill holes to stop cracks spreading.

[@c0r5e]

Michael Posford give that janator a raise

[@Ant-tv2bl]

Crack stop holes are quite common....

[@nobodydoesithalfasgoodasyou]

​@@Ant-tv2bl yeah I would assume it's a technique basically as old as carpentry

[@GoldAndDangerous]

Thanks for the explanation. I remember the first time I noticed the wings bounce - I was so scared, but I was later told that the wings would break off if they weren't flexing, which helped a lot (although not with my fear of flying). Hearing this video was even more helpful to me.

[@fanboy50]

Thanks for going over this. As someone that has to fly frequently for work, I understand abstractly that flying is very safe, but often my anxiety disagrees. Knowing the nuts and bolts of why the wing is not, in fact, about to tear off of the aircraft helps put me a lot more at ease.

[@alkaholic4848]

0:37 The dog's reaction afterwards was brilliant, it's almost like he was in on the act. Sort of looked away in shock and took a moment to contemplate what he'd just been told. "Wow, really, anything?"

[@MentourPilot]

😂😂😂

[@youtubeuser2195]

Lol

[@PrivateColt]

I love the Mentour Dog! It is amazing how dogs and their owners are looking similar. In this case, both are with the moustache, both are with the beard and the colour of the hair is similar. I love it!

[@MrTwabwire]

no smart at all.

[@PrivateColt]

@@MrTwabwire Judging on your reply, you never had a dog. Didn't you? Also, you probably never interested in having one too. Because there is nothing "smart" or "not smart" in my previous post. Only my admiration of dogs as well as owners (in this particular case). Anyone who has (or had) a dog and has some understanding about them knows that owners tend to pick a dog, which has some similarities with them selfs. This process is deeply subconscious and it is awesome to see it and this is a widely known fact. My advice for you @Tom Wabwire would be this: instead of being so negative person better be more observant when you see dogs and their owners. I am not joking. I am telling you this completely seriously. Also, I don't think anyone enjoys your negativity here...

[@ertugruleditz8624]

@@PrivateColt no need to get offended

[@Kevins-Philippine-Retirement]

I really appreciate your concise and articulate speaking in all of your videos. Even your home setting set is very professional. I am from Newfoundland, Canada, and a huge proton of our people are of Irish descent. Your accent is easy on the ears 😊

[@writer684]

The dog is wondering who is he talking with?

[@elastronaute1198]

lol

[@billa1870]

My bird actually does this when I'm on the phone and she's sitting on my head. She talks back to me and I'm not even talking to her.

[@Nutty151]

9:44 Dog stands alert for wing span speech.

[@iliapopovich]

I noticed too. It can't understand why the camera isn't moving or making noise . Probably after that it will think that there's something wrong with the ginger pilot. "He isn't OK with his head".

[@rohitmadugula6738]

🤣🤣🤣🤣

[@derekozzie1138]

As an aerospace/outerspace machinist. I appreciate the metallurgy call out, and the actual performance of these materials in the final assembly.

[@noahwilliams8918]

Personally my favorite part of watching 787s and 350s takeoff is the wing flex. It's beautiful, looks just like a large bird gliding gently and gracefully off the ground. Wish I lived somewhere I could watch them rotate more often!

[@justayoutuber1906]

I knew someone that was working at Boeing in 1994. She was testing the 777 and was so excited when the day came to "break the wings". She said they were calculated to flex to like 32.2 feet (or something insane like that). After she said their calculations were within a few mms of knowing when they would break!

[@sharoncassell9358]

I saw a B 52 take off and flex wings about 17 feet each side . What a sight.

[@Ampersandrascott]

That’s… not quite accurate. The wings actually broke much later than calculated. This sounds good on the surface, but means the wing was designed heavier than it needed to be.

[@mx5mke]

It's "Time To Worry" when you observe the LEFT side wing through the RIGHT side window. (or Vice-Versa.) Wings can ONLY do that ONCE.

[@lohdiwei9778]

But the back wheels of your car are almost always going forward.

[@UnicaLuce]

weird flex but ok.

[@jonathanmoerdijk4032]

Not if you're standing on the right wing, looking through the right AND left window and see the left wing. But I suppose that, during flight, you're only able to do that once at most...

[@dailysandwich4838]

Tf? That is only possible woth a mirror

[@jonathanmoerdijk4032]

It is possible, stand on one wing and look through both the left and right window, to see the other wing.

[@wa4aos]

YOU MISSED ONE VERY IMPORTANT DETAIL : Vibrations always move in the direction of least resistance/mass. With the wing ends thinner and more narrow. This puls vibrations away from the wing base as well as the fuselage. Just like radio towers that are not guyed, they are tapered, smaller as you go up, and for the same reasons. Personally, I am GLAD to see the wing ends vibrate since those forces are being transmitted away from the craft.

[@jayzo]

I'd been fortunate to have flown for the first time after watching this channel, so maybe that stopped me being afraid of it. The first time I saw the wings flapping around like that I found it mesmerizing rather than terrifying. I also see the 747s and A380s daily at work and the amount the wings flex during takeoff looks insane from the ground.

[@drewjeers3301]

I rarely ever fly. I've just been listening daily lately to pass time at work. That being said, the way he speaks and explains has given me unusual amounts of retention to most everything he's covered. I almost feel like I'm becoming as qualified as anyone on board would be to land an airliner in an emergency situation. God help us if it came to that though.

[@hectorlopez1089]

Thank you for this video. I havent flown in a commercial plane in 20 years and had some concerns and anxiety about flying. Wing flex was one of those concerns. Thank you for alleviating some of my stress.

[@beenaplumber8379]

There have been many stories of US-based airlines having cozy relationships with their FAA inspectors, and then getting away with dangerous, even disastrous practices. The one that springs to mind is Chalks, but I know there are others. Has the FAA ever done anything to change that systemic problem? Rotating inspectors to different airlines? When an inspector works with the same mechanics for years, their relationship changes. They become more like coworkers.

[@ianboyle1026]

That's a very interesting problem that sociologists call "capture" -- where outside regulatory officials in an industry become too close to those they're supposed to be inspecting, in effect becoming auxiliary personnel of the organization to some extent, and enforcement becomes lax. It's a danger in food safety/health regulation, in the prison system, the building industry, and various other areas. Your suggestion that it could happen in aviation makes perfect sense.

[@drummist1000]

US based? ONLY?

[@beenaplumber8379]

@@drummist1000 The FAA is the US regulatory body. They cannot go to another country and act as official inspectors. They regulate all civil aviation (and some military operations) in the US, including foreign flag carriers while operating in the US, but what we're talking about is what happens at maintenance bases. Foreign flag carriers generally contract with US maintenance services (often US airlines) if needed for their operations within the US, and that's where those inspectors would be. Do those inspectors, who only work in the US, develop a cozy relationship with the companies (which hold US certificates) they are supposed to be regulating?

[@gps-gps]

Your spoken English and presentation is exceptional. I found this production very immersive and informative, thank you.

[@timmiser]

A-Loom-in-um.

[@Hatchiemann]

I was thinking it..... but glad I didn't SAY it. ROFL. That was FUNNY right there! Lol. But what an awesome video. I love his presentations.

[@hamadal-bader7640]

@@timmiser he is European!

[@MisteriosMr]

The most of the German people speaks English

[@gps-gps]

Goood evening Juan. Yes you are absolutely correct, most German people and people from other European countries speak English, but in fairness not all are as fluent as 'Mentour Pilot'. Please don't get me wrong, I understand that English is a hard language to learn for anyone who's first language isn't English. Most English people admire and respect our European friends for the way they make the effort to learn English. It's also slightly embarrassing for most English people, as most of us can only speak English.

[@christinecrockford1654]

I'm a nervous flyer. I dont show it and get in the plane without any problems and its all in my head, plus fear of heights. Watching your videos you do really help me and your one nicest people on the Internet. Love 💘 u xxx thankyou

[@horntv5039]

Very good channel ! In my 30 years of flying, mainly in Asia, I experienced a lot of "interesting" situations. I especially recommend flying with Vietnam Airlines through a thunderstorm. These Pilots seemed to come directly out of their Fighter Planes and check, what a Triple Seven can do.

[@karenkramer3760]

This is an amazing channel. After watching videos like the flight channel, I have nothing but the utmost of respect from you pilots. Thanks for keeping us safe, most of us.

[@erwinschmidt7265]

Karen Kramer - And I have a lot of respect FOR the pilots as well!

[@sharoncassell9358]

Some planes have uranium at the tips as counter weights.

[@mattthornton5216]

I started watching your videos about 10 hours ago and I've not been able to stop yet. Very informative and entertaining and your descriptions of flight dynamics, engineering and procedures are fascinating. Thank you so much for posting these videos.

[@whatever57010]

from 12:20 I just stared at the dog... and it got weirder and weirder

[@balesjo]

Yeah, the dog is a real scene stealer! Totally cute.

[@tonyhartness2123]

Same here he just stares patiently stealing the show.

[@michalsz2]

8:36 Dog's head went minus 1G ..while mentour was explaining 1 G :)

[@georgeyu4594]

The dog did not care when you say the wing could never break, but he started to worry when he heard about poor maintenance.

[@windhelmguard2328]

Well, i'll be fucked I didnt know you were into aviation. GTA V aircraft make no sense tho.

[@nzcyclone]

If was turbulent and wings were not bending and flexing to be honest I would be worried. Flexing means strength and shock absorbing... not flexing means breakable... that is just my thoughts though. The limits for likes of the B777 series and B787 series the wing tip can flex for more than a couple of meters it is not mm's or cm but meters. Thank you again for another great video Mentour Pilot :)

[@MentourPilot]

Thank you so much for watching and interacting! It means a lot for the channel and me.

[@nzcyclone]

@@MentourPilot Oh wow, I got a reply!!!! that means so very much to me!! . Myself I always wanted to be a pilot, But, I never followed my dream, now I am to old, I guess that will always be my life's regret.Thank you for all you do for us. For all the time and effort you put into making your videos, Afterall it is not just time to record it but then have to edit it, upload it. That is all time which i would imagine would be a good couple of hours at least. Wish you and your family safe, well and happy always.

[@aerocap]

@@nzcyclone You express my own feelings. Thanks to you and to Mentour Pilot.

[@bennylloyd-willner9667]

Yup, just like tall buildings and any big construction out in the elements. Without flexing they all would break and fall. Excellent video, as always. I sure like the clear and well paced speech Mentour uses.

[@patrickfromm105]

There is (or was) a five-part video series (five hours) on youtube about the development and certification of the Boeing 777. The most dramatic part, to me, was when they pulled the wing up to destruction, which is called the "ultimate load factor". I think it broke at 23 feet!

[@therayven3147]

I remember flying for the first time at the age of 8years old... We hit moderate turbulence and I seen the wings flex... I thought to my self, "oh crap, the wings are going to fall off"... The turbulence themselves didn't bother me as it felt more like a car on the road... But seeing the wing flex scared me... Now I know that the skin of the aircraft will come apart before the wings fail... Seeing the wing flex almost 45° in that stress test was amazing... Kinda reassuring I recon... PS, love the dog, cute little fella... And his reaction while you were explaining Gforce was priceless... He was like, "really nigga"... Anyway, God bless and keep the blue side up...

[@mach6893]

I would be terrified if the wing didn't flex.

[@ayoengel-halfkenny433]

LMAO a 74gear fan i see you

[@AeroBen]

Weird flex, but okay.

[@MentourPilot]

Weird in what way?

[@AeroBen]

@@MentourPilot It's a joke on social media, not really relevant to this video but it was sort of funny. Great video as always.

[@MentourPilot]

@@AeroBenTank you! Have a great weekend!

[@gamefreak6126]

😂 😂

[@iamf6641]

Cuz the topic has flex in it and you stick a meme in this vid

[@bobbykeyz1263]

So much information. I actually feel a little safer.

[@kingmulei]

The guy is magic to me

[@tigertiger1699]

Hi, you are perfectly safe in plane..., knowledge is power..., my Wife was a terrified flier..., she did a flying without fear course..., learnt how planes work.., saw for herself in a class room.., and figured it out for herself that she is safe... I highly recommend it👍

[@MentourPilot]

I am so happy to hear that!

[@filipcza]

This information really helps! I was too a little bit worried about wing holding up until I saw how manufacturer bends the wings wayyy up. There's no way turbulence can do that. After that the slight bending or turbulence does not worry me at all. It's just what we don't know that causes us to worry. So thanks for this video!

[@harrymallory7963]

@@MentourPilot Hi Mentor! What isnit your dog finds so interesting back there?

[@emanuele7043]

8:48 "but I can promise you that you never felt -1 g, because that's a lot". Ryanair pilot: hold my beer

[@jakenolan2572]

CAL6 passengers: 1g? Nothing. If you want something, try 5gs.

[@m00semanus]

Lol so true

[@armhunter]

@@jakenolan2572 he said -1 G which is a lot! -2G can cause serious injury.. negative G's are far more dangerous.

[@brokeandtired]

@@armhunter because negative G's pull on your organs and tries to tear them apart, also negative G's push the organs upwards when the human body structure is designed to resist weight pressing down on it....The human body is far stronger in compression (positive G's).

[@b-chroniumproductions3177]

Me, a roller coaster enthusiast: That's some nice ejector airtime

[@EMETRL]

the wings on the 787 flex so much more than any other plane i've been on, i've always found that so visually satisfying

[@emrefifty5281]

I find it scary,it makes me anxious.

[@mwbgaming28]

i have no fear of flying by any means, but il have to agree there, i dont particularly like the crazy amount of flex on the 787s wings (i still love flying on it though) the engineer part of my brain says its flexing because stress is multiplied by stiffness and is divided by ductility, but the human part of my brain thinks its weaker than it really is the engineer part of my brain usually wins though

[@johndunkle740]

I use to watch the B52's land at Eglin AFB and loved seeing them actually flap like a birds wing. Looked really sharp.

[@sharoncassell9358]

Yes. They flex 17 feet up & down. I watched them takeoff & land..i changed wings on a C 141 1983.

[@brucegoodwin634]

I know this isn't a military channel, but as an example of wing flexing it may be interesting to show the USAF B-52 & U-2. Great channel-thanks Mentor Pilot!

[@stevenlarratt3638]

Mentour pilot answering the questions you didnt know needing an answer 👍✌ brilliant (not the website)...

[@MentourPilot]

Hahaha! That’s s great slogan!

[@fishbed4522]

12:03 I think doggo is nervous about poor maintenance...

[@MentourPilot]

It is very possible, he has heard me talking about it. :)

[@BobBobBob2042]

The eyes at that moment..

[@grahamhauritz6395]

The dog is wondering who the hell his owner is talking to.

[@tylerdurden3722]

...lol...that subject caught his attention. Like he doesn't want to seem interested but he can't help it.

[@RadiantPhenom]

maybe you could create a playlist for nervous flyers with more videos about safety in aviation. You sound very confident and calming :)

[@jmurphy1973]

Flew on a 747 from SEA to MSP back in 94. It was ROUGH as we were climbing out of SEA and I had a great view of the wing through my window seat. My wife (at the time, anyway) was not a fan of the jostling of this huge plane and made it known to me. So...what do I do? I point at this wing as it's flexing and moving like it's a flimsy piece of plastic. She. Was. Not. Impressed.

[@MentourPilot]

Hahaha! Cruel!

[@mwbgaming28]

you sir are pure evil

[@Billy123bobzzz]

You probably wasted a perfectly good wife that way. LOL

[@yosefmacgruber1920]

Flying cars might have a smoother ride, because there will be no wings to pick up turbulence and to flex. But if flying cars do not fly as high as airplanes, that may then increase the turbulence? But without wings, they would be less subject to being affected by turbulence.

[@nakebuckaroobob]

My 1st time on a plane,my seatmate caught on to my panic.He played me real good and started saying"Oh my GOD!The wings are gonna fall off"! Talk about CRUEL! LOL

[@DG-mw1bf]

I got to the channel a few months ago and I got over most of your videos. It is really nice to see into perspective how the channel evolved from somewhat amateur, educational videos to quite polished ones. I find every video interesting ... I am just an enthusiast with couple of hundred hours on MS Flight simulator :D ... and overall 10 hours above ground in real life.

[@MentourPilot]

Hi! Thank you very much for those kind words. I am constantly working on getting better and better, it’s nice to hear that it’s noticed.

[@art.demirjian9721]

I always use to wonder about the wings "not breaking apart" with all that powerful variations of pressure under and above the wings while in the air. After having this very same detailed explanation, I know very well that "wings" are very durable structure of an airplane, which never breaks apart, because of their small sections in every each wing. Thanks for sharing the knowledge!

[@bellezayverdad]

Bolts and rivets too! Mentour, I'd like to suggest you a video topic. For a long time I used to wonder why the aircraft manufacturers still use the seemingly outdated rivets to build planes instead of welding. Most other industries phased out rivets a long time ago in favor of welding as it presents many advantages. Maybe you could explain this in a video. Thx and keep up the good work!

[@mnxs]

It's because welded joints are (comparatively) stiff and inflexible, meaning that they can't work ("flex", if you will) as much. Rivets, on the other hand, are not actually a completely solid joint (ie., it's not two metal pieces that are literally _melted_ together); thus, they are able to work, expand and contract in a flexible manner, putting less stress overall on the airframe. The expansion and contraction bits are especially important, as airframes actually expand and contract when flying pressurised up in the very thin air of 10km altitude. In other words, for the right applications, rivets aren't outdated at all :)

[@Amehdion]

My dad used to fly as a medic on Life-Flight XT which is a fixed wing air ambulance. I remember that he showed me a video when they were returning to base and ended up having to fly through a storm. In the video the wings of the aircraft were dang near flexing to 90 degrees from the turbulence. One of them actually ended up hitting their head on the ceiling during a particularly violent downdraft burst where they lost over 300 ft of altitude in about a second or so. Luckily they were wearing flight helmets at the time. When he showed me the video I was astonished that the aircraft could survive that level of abuse, but he told me that he had actually flown through WORSE storms. After that, seeing the wings flex on commercial airliners never bothered me lol.

[@MentourPilot]

Yep, they are tougher than most people think.

[@Newzchspy]

90 degrees! I doubt it. Probably 5-10 degrees.

[@glowingone1774]

Show video.

[@silverwiskers7371]

When I was a kid I saw a B36 at Barksdale AFB and the wings blew my mind, think of the stress factors involved in that monsters wings, I saw it take off and its something I'll never forget🇺🇸

[@lorentzarmstrong3008]

Mentour, your dog stole the show this time 🙂. Great video as always. Thanks!

[@MentourPilot]

Hahaha, he always does.

[@FooFighters19]

Yes! How about a Mentour introduces dog episode?! :^D

[@N1WP]

On my most fun flight as a passenger from ORD to MIA it was on a 727-200B we flew through a CB - They actually flew through thunderstorms back then because planes could actually fly through rain. We encountered some turbulence. The meals flew upwards and people started screaming. The plane dropped for about 15 seconds - I love it! I fly acro now. I noticed the end of the wing tips above the fuselage as the plane was dropping. It was the most fun flight I had. The 727 was one tough plane and one of my favorites. WP

[@mnxs]

I daresay it's not because modern planes can't fly through rain - they actually test the engines' capability of such with several firehoses worth of water - but rather that they really don't like all the (potential) turbulence that can be in those powerful weather systems. Chiefly I think it's a passenger comfort thing (because, as you know, the planes can really take a lot), but in severe enough weather, it can pose a safety risk. So they just avoid it as much as possible.

[@hmessec7682]

Thank you for this series, the thought, research, planning, work, and execution of every one of these episodes. It’s certainly possible that you have saved a life (or many!) with your efforts. God bless you, and all your partners in this enterprise.

[@captainprice4261]

Even wings are flexing these days

[@MentourPilot]

They are indeed!

[@tomaszg4699]

lmao

[@antoniobuccheri5159]

Ahahahahahhaahhaha

[@antoinebonnet4340]

well, they're lifting all the time...

[@captainprice4261]

@@antoinebonnet4340 its a joke

[@mvmishler]

You should trust this man, that dog taught him everything he knows.

[@TheMachine932]

😂

[@normanjevons1222]

After he has finished the video, the dog holds up cards with his front paws and gives him points out of six.

[@boatlover1875]

Great video! Anytime I run into someone who is afraid to fly and who the wing flex scares, I try to show them a video of the failure test of the wings on a new aircraft. Invariably, the tips are almost touching each other above the plane before they fail. We used to have an annual foot race/walk across the Chesapeake bay (suspension) bridge. Kind of the same thing, quite amazing how much the bridge moves that you might not notice in a car driving across it.

[@marinkomatich3279]

8:36 Doggo's sleep was interrupted

[@crxtzonceu6292]

Laughtrip

[@Sector_07]

😂😂😂😂

[@happydays8171]

Haha, I just saw that doggie get rudely awakened when he whistled @ 8:36

[@HealthBeatHub]

🤣🤣🤣

[@Docstantinople]

aww he interacted with the doggo today, how cute.

[@MentourPilot]

Yeah, he was complaining a bit today.

[@danieloliviusson6806]

Petter, can we qet a Dr No style episode? Like "i have been expecting you Mr viewer (pets dog)"@@MentourPilot

[@Dan-oj4iq]

This video was the first time that the pooch actually caused me to lose my concentration on the narrative. What was he staring at (the camera...or what) for such a long time? It caused me to take my mind off of the subject at hand. But it was well worth it and I hope that the little guy is not removed from future videos just because he might be a slight distraction.

[@eloisebrynlee]

So cute! 8:35 made me laugh! I love it when the little dog looks at the camera too.

[@buddyclem7328]

He just wanted some of that sweet Mentour Pilot merch!

[@rjbeatz]

You always come up with explanation of things I ask myself about

[@nathandanner4030]

Somewhere around 5 years ago I was working at Boeing Renton plant on building a new wing line for the 737. Not far from the area where we were taking our break was the area where they do the wing stress testing for the 737. I think that they were testing the P-8 Poseidon at the time. They use what I think are hydraulics attacked to the wings to work the wings back and forth to simulate the wings moving up and down in the air. Doing this many times they can simulate how the stress on the wing can cause fatigue stress that can cause the material they are made out of break. Some times the angles that they pull the wings to can be quite distressing. I remember looking at it a few times and thinking that I wouldn't want to be flying in a plane whose wings are in that configuration(V). It was both cool and alarming.

[@mnxs]

The important thing to remember there is that the wings will never actually flex quite that much during flight - it was, as you said, a stress test they were performing, artificially loading the wing much higher than it ever will in normal operation, just to study the effects. Cool story though, I wish I could see that for myself!

[@ChuckJansenII]

Great video. People don't realize how much engineering goes into an aircraft. There are times when something slips through or is allowed to slip through, but this is rare. If known problems are fixed in development, then the manufacturer is doing their job. Allowing a plane into service with known design flaws and no corrective actions taken is inexcusable. That said, most aircraft do undergo rigorous testing and problems are fixed as they are discovered. Aircraft can take a lot of punishment and damage. Hawaiian Airlines B-737 that lost the top and sides of first class cabin is an example. Another example is the damage warbirds like the B-17 took in combat. There are pictures of B-17s with half a wing chewed up or missing that made it back to England. Other B-17s had serious damage to the vertical and or horizontal stabilizers yet landed safely back at their airfield in the UK. Engineering helps, but under such conditions everything then rides on the pilots of the aircraft. So the next time you deplane from the ramp, look out the window from the terminal and see your wing, horizontal stabilizers and vertical stabilize all shot up by angry Albatross*, thank your pilots. They got you home safe. * - No Albatross was harmed in the typing of this comment. I also have no proof that Albatross have been armed with .30 cal or .50 cal machine guns. This is more than likely made up.

[@lyndapierson6338]

hate to say this mr. mentour man but puppy took center stage!

[@MrToni99]

You are the best one. And very clean English. Thank you so much.

[@internetmemeconnection4430]

I hope you realize how much your videos decrease my anxiety for flying haha

[@RosyRosie42]

I totally agree! I’ve been binge-watching the last few days, and despite how many “what can go wrong” videos I’ve seen, I’m realizing how incredible the pilots are! Nerves of steel, focused, and super knowledgeable - I feel so much more comfortable with airplanes and flying, and have so much more trust in flight crews :)

[@Theegoaat]

42RosyRosie you should your much more likely to be involved in an automobile accident than an airplane. Im sure you most likely drive or are driven in an automobile everyday.

[@mwbgaming28]

You have a better chance of winning the lottery than dying in a plane crash If you think your plane will crash, buy a lottery ticket and if you win, maybe take the next flight (ideally in a private jet, cause you are a millionaire now)

[@m.a.r1982]

Internet Meme Connection whyyyyy 😩😫

[@PabloGonzalez-hv3td]

I've always noticed ppl that are afraid of flying have little understanding of what's going on and fill the void with fear

[@berkletheclownsvideos2461]

I just now stumbled upon your videos and I am loving them. I’m not a pilot but love to fly and have always been captivated by the theory of flight. I have learned so much from you so far…and Ali have only watched 3 or 4 of your videos…up to this point.

[@LogicPak]

That is without doubt the cutest dog I’ve ever seen!

[@JuanDelaCruz-il9wy]

I'm just staring at the dog, not paying attention at all to that man.

[@jackpeltzel]

Juan Dela Cruz I know, it looks like he/she is waiting for the wife to come back! :)

[@runningwaters2200]

very nice Doggie

[@fatbutter9178]

Juan Dela Cruz pilipino

[@ualove5553]

Ha ha ha ha ha😁😅😆

[@xxtitanfallxx2075]

I didnt even notice the dog until you mention it. I thought it was an stature

[@erwinschmidt7265]

Mentour Pilot - Unfortunately saw same thing early 90's at G.R., MI. Loaded NWA liner on approach but sitting still w/zero groundspeed encountering vicious downdraft due to microburst. When Capt saw me in orange highway truck drivin' loco pointing at him, he went full gas, gear up, full flaps, slightly nose down, entering elevator to hell. Instantly went straight down flat w/huge smoke & at bottom in woods wings looked like your cover photo. All cabin crew checking seatbelts injured being smushed in ceiling & smashed into floor when wings caught. 1st Ofcr knew he was dead so no help. Liner ravaged, no COM w/cabin, no radios, no autopilot, wing spar fractured in 5 places, tree limbs growing out of belly, and no luck at all...except all survived. Capt gently coaxed liner up flying towards Lansing and on way back came cruising way below minimums alongside I-96 gently waggling wings & waving sheet of paper on side window to say "thanks". Capt classy kind of guy!! He cleared himself for approach-landing-taxyin' pulling off best long landing ever so easy on plane. Pulled up to gate, but no one was around so just parked as per usual but there was no ground crew. 1st Ofcr still sure he was DED, so no help as Capt heard cabin door open and he could hear injured being attended to, 1st Ofcr carted off & passengers disembarked, leaving him all alone. He finished off checklist to shut down aircraft. No Company peeps at or on ramp & Capt wanted look at plane so scooted down small staircase for late luggage, looked back at wings drooping instead in that usual smart vee and knew he was in trouble. Plane pretty beat up with tree limbs extending from belly and knew he was in big trouble. Company could surely prove he was flying below the minimums so was yanking on the bigger tree limbs when GRPD Ofcr snuck up from behind and cuffed him saying he was under arrest for tampering with evidence, leaving scene of accident, and joyriding an airplane. Capt dragged thru terminal empty except for his bewildered deplaned passengers & hauled in front of FAA and Airport Officials for interrogation. FAA Ofcl ordered cuffs removed, then asked shtload of questions few of which he had any answer for. On further review by NTSB they got NWS to certify no windshear or downdraft possible at incident location AND MDOT to certify none of their vehicles near location of incident, so after that thorough investigation, NTSB determined Pilot Error and desire to Joyride Airliner as cause of incident. FAA canceled all of his tickets except those given to him by GRPD, so couldn't even fly home. 1st Ofcr to shook up on day of incident, he rented car for G.R. to Minneapolis/St. Paul and Capt flew back on Company jump seat. Company decided Capt could regain wings by being retrained, check ridden, and recertified by FAA for every type flown by Northwest Orient. He was suspended until then but would be removed from suspension and back on flight status upon promise to never bring up seeing MDOT truck that didn't exist or waggle wings of a Company aircraft at a MDOT driver that did not exist! Fast fwd to Nov '96 when Dad had heart attack on way to FLA from Michigan. Missus & myself drove to Hamilton Indiana to check on folks. Missus drove our van home to Cadillac, and I drove folks to TPA near their Punta Gorda winter home. Near Thanksgiving so tickets to Detroit very expensive. SW Air counter lady saw I was in jam so called God at Love Field Land who okayed small discount that left me $7 for Pilot's Special of hamburger, chips, pickle, tax, and tip at Pilots' Lounge. I landed in Pilots' Lounge at table by wall, ordered, and in came two pair of pilots, one NW and other SW Airlines. They sat right across from me and NW pair was invited by SW pair for knowledge transfer from NW Capt to SW brand new 1st Ofcr. NW Capt began but couldn't remember in what order emergency procedures were accomplished once knew they were in jam. I quietly spoke "Capt you went full gas, gear up, full flaps, nose slightly down, and disappeared in downdraft". Capt reared up, leaned on their table snarling "And just how would you know that?" Replied "I'm the ahole in the orange highway truck you spoke of....here's my I.D."! Capt inspected I.D. saying "I've been looking for you"! We got a nice hard stock dinner napkin and I wrote all the details we discussed on it, and all four pilots witnessed my signature giving Capt all he needed as had done NTSB's job of near aircraft disaster investigation by himself! NTSB reopened investigation, NWS certified it certainly was possible for microburst with attendant downdraft at time of incident, and MDOT certified my truck and time records proved I was at incident location as well. Capt got $300,000 in costs refunded, plus retirement time awarded, and back wages paid as well. NTSB Director had "The Napkin" displayed in front case at D.C. NTSB Headquarters, and when meeting taking place in Auditorium broke for lunch, they couldn't get them back in Auditorium as each clawing their way closer to napkin according to NTSB Investigator that straightened this mess out!! So Capt Mentour, have you ever had a bad day at the cockpit like this poor bloke sittin' in the sun, enjoyin' the view, lucky to be a Pilot, going straight to full blown emergency in less than a second? Inquiring minds want to know!!! Please advise.......

[@TheMachine932]

8:35 Dog is like “WTF was that? Sounded like 1G.”

[@Cloud9TNdotCOM]

I've been binge watching your videos for the last few days. Such great information! I am personally terrified of flying - which is strange because as a kid, I wanted to be a pilot. During my teenage years I flew a TON - several times a year over the Atlantic, plus between Rome and London often. I am not sure what happened to make me so white knuckle, but I avoid air travel if at all possible - which I have been pretty successful at. You have lots of videos showing how planes are really durable - yet you also show that situations arise, , mistakes are made, and depending on the skill of your pilot - anything could happen. I guess the best I can hope is that the next time I am flying, it's on a properly maintained craft with a knowledgeable pilot such as yourself.

[@mnxs]

As I'm sure you know, of course, flying is extremely safe. If you're worried about human-error type mishaps still (if that is what you're hinting at?) I would recommend you to 'fly renowned & reputable'. By that I mean that you go for airlines with a great safety record and well-respected name. You will pay more, but that could be seen as a feature; a cheapskate airline, in contrast, will have more incentives to cut on maintenance, crew rest, and so forth.

[@saiprashanthssec2605]

This is the best youtube educational video i have ever seen in my entire life...

[@Knealeriley]

Wings flex for the same reason your car has a suspension

[@MrTiti]

no. lol the wing flex is a consequence the car suspension intentionally

[@lfox02]

@@MrTiti Wings flex intentionally. They are designed and tested to do so.

[@masso172]

Ground turbulence? Lmao

[@CaptainChrom]

If the wings wouldn't flex the plane would be a lot more unstable during turbulences. Imagine how it feels to drive a city bike with very bad suspension through the forest. Yeah not good

[@HPTechHelp]

MrTiti clown

[@stevenlarratt3638]

8:38 mentour pilot whistles... dog: did you want something? Nah back to sleep...

[@MentourPilot]

Hahaha!

[@jabiribrahim8137]

He confused with 1g 😄

[@betta67]

Ha-ha... the dog only got dazed and confused by the oversimplified physics used by his owner: gravitational pulling measured in m/s² with weight measured in kg :) It seems they have a subscription on a certain website ;)

[@stevenlarratt3638]

@@betta67 are you american based?

[@betta67]

@@stevenlarratt3638 Ney! I'm not! Does it matter? Like fundamental unit of measures differ on different parts of Earth? (aside the stupid set of 1% of the world clings on)? Anyway, regardless of our weight we all fall the same with 9.80m/s² at sea level ;)

[@megabotofficial8519]

I like your videos because you describe in detail some of the things that worry me about flying and you have put my mind at ease considerably! Thanks for making this content and including the images you have to explain flying! Cheers!

[@jejewa2763]

Few years ago and it was shown on TV, a plane carrying water for water bombing a fire, both wings went vertical from their position. From your explanation I think that the plane was still full of water and empty wings.

[@Not.Your.Business]

12:45 your doggo starts staring into my soul. it's... unnerving

[@MentourPilot]

Hahaha! Yeah, he does that quite often. My wife (@mentourwife in the App ) says the same

[@Not.Your.Business]

I bet he's a good boy nonetheless (or gal) :)

[@birdymaniac]

the dog is cute

[@lindasherman9921]

The co-star is a scene stealer.

[@No_Fuse8771]

MK ultra much?

[@nilsneite966]

Wow!! What a great way to convey a complex topic in an exciting but easy way. I devour all of your videos. So good 👍🏻👍🏻

[@raymondkoonce5827]

You didn't mention it, but even airplanes like mine, a Cessna 421B with a roughly 42 foot wingspan, will flex slightly in flight. As you say, this is quite normal. I very much enjoy your explanations, by the way. I have NEVER caught the smallest mistake in your videos. Well done, Sir.

[@MentourPilot]

Thank you so much Raymond! That’s great to hear and fly safe!

[@NigelJames87]

I am terrified of flying but I love engineering. His calm technical explanation of how things work is great for reducing fear of flying. Thanks

[@stevenstair1068]

When I was very little I flew with my dad which had his own planes built in the 40s and when I went up with him I was scared to death to move and look out the window because I thought I would tilt the plane which was silly at the time to feel that way but I was about 10 at the time, now I'm starting my 38th year of being a pilot and I have a ball doing it...

[@jetmustang]

Was lucky enough to witness the breaking of the 777's wings on the Static Test plane back around 1994, very intense. I believe they broke at 154% of maximum load as I recall.

[@WilbertLek]

Aircraft Maintenance here. "Why don't the wings break?!" Because they can bend...

[@dipie197]

They’re not bending, the plane’s just flapping it’s wings!

[@jayzo]

I remember watching a video of KZbinr NerdCubed flying a glider in some simulator and he noticed the wings "flapping" when he pitched and managed to break the wings after trying to make them flap like a bird.

[@mariebcfhs9491]

flaps and slats

[@adamp.3739]

You should make a South Park meme out of this!

[@person4149]

no planes don’t flap birds do planes flys🙃

[@dipie197]

A Bad GAMER wut

[@anthonygillesse7242]

I think your dog was trying to steal the show, give him or her a kiss for me I’m always impressed with air craft construction highest quality of man made items 🇨🇦

[@mwbgaming28]

let me expand on what Mentour Pilot was saying in regard to the types of alloys used in cans vs aircraft coke cans are usually made from 3104-H19 aluminium alloy the mechanical properties of which are as follows fatigue strength: 85MPa shear strength: 180MPa tensile strength: 270MPa (yield) tensile strength: 310MPa (ultimate) aircraft structural elements are almost exclusively made from 7175 aluminium alloy the mechanical properties of which are as follows fatigue strength: 150-180MPa shear strength: 290-330MPa tensile strength: 430-490MPa (yield) tensile strength: 520-570MPa (ultimate) as you can see, 7000 series aluminium alloys are much stronger than the alloys used in coke cans and are much more resistant to metal fatigue, therefore you dont need to worry about the plane breaking apart under normal flight conditions (or even in bad weather)

[@MentourPilot]

Thank you for your help! Very clearly explained!

[@jasonh8043]

Impressive knowledge of metallurgy.

[@mwbgaming28]

@@jasonh8043 thanks, the internet is an amazing place to learn things

[@rommysoeli]

Aluminum material on coke can isn't as weak as people thought, they're weak because they're just as thin as human hair.

[@mwbgaming28]

@@rommysoeli true but its about half the strength of "aerospace grade" 7175 aluminium alloy (which is what aircraft structure like wing spars and fuselage beams are made from) if coke cans were made from 7175 they would be much more difficult to crush (and a lot harder to cut)

[@MIZUNOMP60]

12:09s Once Petter mentions poor maintenance as the only real thing that could lead to wing failure his dog suddenly gets real interested in the rest of the video. Prior to that he was completed tuned out. It's almost like his dog wasn't expecting Petter to have any reasons why airplane wings could fail 😄

[@susanmandeville693]

I like the artwork on your back wall. You have such a wealth of info!! I am addicted!

[@MStreppelhoff]

I flew very often as a kid with my parents and everytime we got a turbulance, most of the poeple fell uncomfortable...but i had a smile on my face seeing the wings moving up and down :D

[@rmontana3693]

Now I can sleep on my flight instead of watching the wings waiting for them to break.

[@U2WB]

I love your videos. They’re so interesting and informative. I am a fearful flyer, and your explanations honestly do make me feel a whole lot better for so many reasons. Thank you for presenting these for people like myself.

[@erichoss4218]

Nice Video! but as a roller coaster enthusiast I can assure you they pull way more than 2.5 G's. 4 G's in not uncommon at all and some do even more than that. It is worth noting that those high G-forces don't last very long on rides.

[@EveryTipeOfVideo]

Awesome cool and detailed video! Who else agrees?

[@MrTassadarzo]

Agreed!

[@martinandersson5278]

EveryTypeOfVideo but he’s English is terrible

[@MrTassadarzo]

@@martinandersson5278 Not so bad, I like his English. He's very good at explaining complex concepts in a concise manner so they can be easily understood.

[@vrxcld5014]

Totally

[@jaxdabomb1]

@@martinandersson5278 I'm an english speaker learning french- I would love my french to be as terrible as his english

[@schizophrenicenthusiast]

Can we take a moment to appreciate the fact that this whole video is a single take? That's rare to see nowadays

[@carbonhazard]

It wasn’t tho

[@bradlavassaur8265]

This video was awesome!! I love aviation, and find videos like this fascinating, and a great way to learn more about aviation. You're definitely a credit to your company and community of those who want to be more knowledgeable on this subject. I think everyone who has fears about flying should see this video. Simply awesome!! Thank you for sharing, have a great day, and safe journeys 👍👍🛫

[@martinlatvian5538]

I do usually choose my seat close to the wings so I am in the middle of the baby swing. Love You all my dear pilots! I have seen some flexing, but never was worried. Once I step on the board My life belongs to the pilots. Pilots are angels with aluminum wings.

[@tomdivittis2688]

I had the pleasure of flying in a Ford Tri-Motor a few years ago. The rigidity of that plane was quite noticeable. Standing next to it, if you only looked at a small section, you would think it was a very sturdy garage, not an airplane. I remember seeing a documentary that showed testing of a wing (Boeing, I think?) where they secured a wing to a test rig that bent the wing until it broke. When it broke, it just basically shattered. It was amazing/frightening to see, yet comforting because of how far they had to bend it before it happened. The engineering in modern airplanes is incredible.

[@northerniltree]

The aluminum in the wing mounts are alloyed with ChuckNorrissite.

[@SteeringWheelOperator]

Thumbs up for Co-Pilot Doggeh winking at 16:58 :D

[@kathleenhensley5951]

My husband did the NC programming for several wing assembles at Boeing. I am not sure which planes, he worked for decades at Boeing. Men like my husband really know a great deal about Planes and computers and they work very hard to make sure the parts they program will be cut properly.

[@fritz46]

11:30 Yes, wings can break under extraordinary circumstances. But don't worry: Most other parts will come off way earlier.