"Brian Sharrock" wrote in message
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"Andrew Chaplin" wrote in message
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"Brian Sharrock" wrote in message
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wrote in message
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In article Ad6gg.5190$771.1108@edtnps89,
(Ken Chaddock) wrote:
The predominantly wooden deHavilland Mosquito was
one of the first aircraft to be designed with this capability
in mind. Against World War II radar systems, that approach was
fairly successful, but it would not be appropriate today.
I think stealth came way down the list when the Mosquito was
designed, especially as radar was so secret those days. Design
of
the Mosquito started in 1938 when German Radar was unknown. It
was more likely wood was adopted because De Haviland had far
more
experience with that material than metal. IIRC the DH4 had a
monocoque fuselage.
Ken Young
Plus there was a surfeit of woodworkers, joiners and cabinet
makers
unable
to practise their normal trade due to the war economy. The
complement of
metal-bashers were committed to aircraft and vehicle manufacture,
and the
'new' science of laminated materials utilising resins was
becoming
available. All these factors culminated in the 'Ministry of
Aircraft
Production(?)' authorising the production of the wooden-hulled
aircraft and allocating the necessary engines and hydraulic
componentry to DH.
The book 'The New Science of Strong Materials - or Why You Don't
Fall Through the Floor' is recommended for the background to the
development of the Mosquito airframe.
Time for the contribution of Ogden Nash to be recognized:
Some primal termite knocked on wood,
Tasted it, and found it good.
That is why your Cousin May
Fell through the parlour floor today.
--
The " ... why you don't fall through the floor " part of the title
is posed,
and explained. by the question; - 'if atoms are composed of nuclei
and
electrons - with vast relative spacing between the particles, and
both the
floor and your feet are composed of atoms - with vast relative
spaces
between them ... " ... why you don't fall through the floor " ?
Luckily ; termites don't figure too much in English woodworkery ...
Nor Canadian woodwork, but they are migrating north as global warming
moderates our climate. But then, we have always had carpenter ants
with us, and they are rotten little buggers.
I think my grandfather was conscious of what a marvellous material
wood is; his neighbours in Haddenham, however, were rather appalled by
his propensity to use it for structures to house people. It's all a
matter of how you mitigate the risk, I suppose.
--
Andrew Chaplin
SIT MIHI GLADIUS SICUT SANCTO MARTINO
(If you're going to e-mail me, you'll have to get "yourfinger." out.)