Graeme Cant wrote:

Bill Daniels wrote:

The blades themselves are not useful as glider wings but some parts of
the manufacturing base that makes them might be adapted to produce wings.

Other way around, perhaps? I "read" (my German is very rudimentary)a
history of Schempp-Hirth a few years ago and saw photos of wind turbine
blades being manufactured some time in the late 50s/early 60s. Does
anybody have any details?

I also understand that a lot of glider wing aerodynamics is actually a
spinoff from research paid for by wind turbine builders. Eppler, for
one, did turbine work I believe. Again, does anyone know any facts?

GC
Not sure when they may have actually started wind turbine construction, but
I was shown some composite turbine blades when I visited Schempp-Hirch
Kirchheim in 1980. Saw some of the first Ventus production also. Very
kind of them to show a drop in visitor around.

Frank Whiteley