Page 57 - MY STORY
P. 57
degrees F. One prime method to ensure “fail-safe” design
of the DC-8 was to use a thin sheet of high strength and
toughness titanium alloy (Ti-5Al-2.5Sn) sandwiched
between the exterior aluminum sheet and interior circular
frame of the fuselage. Since rivets had to be driven to
hold all these thin pieces together, it was essential to
dimple the new titanium alloy.
When I tried to dimple the new alloy at 400 degrees F all
I got were circumferential cracks running around the
dimple outer periphery. Not good! So, using my infinite
wisdom, I found that if I increased the radius of curvature
of the dimple, just a little bit, I could make dimples with
no cracking. I was really proud of this accomplishment
when I briefed Charlie H (different Charlie than described
earlier), Chief of Production Design, on my findings and
recommendation.
Charlie H, a former navy chief bosons mate, had a strange
smile on his face when he commanded: “Come With Me!”
We went out to the dimpling station on the shop floor
where an incredibly complex set of dimpling tools were
arrayed on multiple racks, including the electrically
heated set for the pure titanium mentioned above. He
pointed out that I did not understand the complexities of
