This shot shows the maximum flex experienced by the airframe during the first impact of the dead stick landing (see the video). The nose gear is being forced back while its lower strut and fork are bending as it absorbs a great deal of the impact force. The white line above the 03 on the cowl is where the functional clam shell hatch meets the skins that are adhered to the fuse. As the nose bends down it takes the clam shell doors with it but not the portion behind it (the white is foam showing at the mate line).

The wing has considerable flex at this point of the impact. The wing is capable of flexing because it incorporates a progressive spar system. The spar is 5/8" thick ply from the center to just past the retract mount, then it consists of a hollow rectangle with 1/8" ply sides and hardwood caps. The final 15" of wing contain no spar structure.

The aft fuse is also bending. With the entire aft fuse covered with polycarbonate skins the unit is extremely durable and no signs of damage were observed - we suspect it could have bent even further without any problems.