"Cy Galley" wrote in message
news:KcMKg.168545$1i1.142267@attbi_s72...
Wooden spars even when on fire retain about 80% of their strength. Even
steel spars will collapse long before the wood spars from the temperature
softening. Don't even ask about aluminum as it is the worse when it comes
to losing strength due to temperature.

Is that why they call it a woody?

Rich S.