Author_Institution :
Douglas Aircraft Company, Inc., Santa Monica, Calif.
Abstract :
ELECTRIC wiring designed for aircraft probably is required to withstand a wider range of operating conditions than most other types of electric wiring. This is not surprising since present airplanes, both combat and commercial types, are expected to be able to fly anywhere in the world under all kinds of weather conditions. Repair of a damaged airplane in remote parts of the world must be accomplished with a minimum of replacement parts, and probably only basic tools, such as screw driver, pliers, hammer, and wrench. In many cases repairs can be made only by salvaging parts from other airplanes. If the original electric wiring of an airplane is properly designed, installed, and protected against damage due to overloads, short circuits, insulation failure, abrasion, fluids, and fungus growth, and so forth, a great deal of wire replacement and maintenance will have been eliminated in both combat and commercial types of aircraft, although in combat airplanes the larger percentage of wire replacement is caused by gunfire damage.