VICKERS VC10: Part Two—Structural Design An Account of the Design Philosophy Adopted For the Principal Load Carrying Structures

THE structural design of the VC10 has been based on well‐established principles and the philosophy of low stress levels in the skins and secondary load paths to meet ‘fail‐safe’ conditions. In general a multiple load path type of structure has been employed. In any one of these load paths a crack may be allowed to develop without fear of catastrophic failure. The operator will, however, be required to maintain a high standard of inspection of the structure in order to prevent cracks developing concurrently in these multiple load paths. The operating economy will be greatly enhanced since major components will not require to be changed until the whole of their useful life has been utilized. This was not the case in structures of the ‘safe‐life’ type owing to the large factors which had to be imposed on life.