On 2/27/2013 2:52 PM, Richard wrote:
the structure of the airplane will be tested “in service.”

You could say that the structure of every totally new airliner is tested
"in service". The manufacturer can only afford to build a handful of
conforming prototypes. When the first examples of the plane start
carrying passengers, those prototypes are still very young and have low
hours (by airline standards.)

At least it's now possible for every part on the plane to have it's own
computer structural analysis.

Vaughn