First Glider

Mark James Boyd wrote:
Stay away from wood. There's a reason it is uncommon
in current aircraft manufacturing.

Yes there is......it's is more difficult to build compound shapes from wood,
more expensive to repeatedly make the same parts from wood when in composite
structures you simply need a mold, some cloth and a bucket of resin to
duplicate each part. Much of the same applies to metal aircraft and that's
why so many new designs, especially from smaller manufacturers choose
composites as well. That is not necessarily a reason to stay away from an
aircraft that was, already painstakingly constructed of wood, are still
airworthy and will be for years to come. You may even find many of your
recent composite aircraft STILL have some wood used in areas as the core for
some bulkheads etc...doesn't mean these should be condemned as well.
tim

"you can trust a tree"--George Coder, in Soaring ad for Standard Austria, circa
1967

I once saw this sign in a homebuilder's shop:

If God had meant for there to be fiberglass gliders he would have planted
fiberglass trees.

another sign in the same shop:

One test is worth one million expert opinions.

-Bob Korves

"Bob2nd" wrote in message
...
"you can trust a tree"--George Coder, in Soaring ad for Standard Austria,
circa
1967

the Robin DR400 which is, at least for the
wings, made of wood and fabric.

And very good woodwork it is. Interestingly tho the wheel panta are carbon
fiber! Go figure.

Robert Mudd
Oh, yes the full George coder quote is "Woods still good, you can trust a tree"

Robertmudd1u wrote:
the Robin DR400 which is, at least for the
wings, made of wood and fabric.


And very good woodwork it is. Interestingly tho the wheel panta are carbon
fiber! Go figure.

Robert Mudd
Oh, yes the full George coder quote is "Woods still good, you can trust a tree"

Having helped to build one of those wings (for a Jodel 1050) I can attest to the
cost of manufacture. For one-off manufacture wood is fine - can even be
therapeutic to make something with your hands and simple tools. For economical
production, composite must win hands down.

For one-off manufacture wood is fine - can even be
therapeutic to make something with your hands and simple tools. For
economical
production, composite must win hands down.

No argument there. However it is sometimes very diffacult for manufactuer to
switch technologies.

Robert Mudd

Another wood related quote:

"Good wood, properly used, never fails"


ruce Greeff wrote in message ...
Robertmudd1u wrote:
the Robin DR400 which is, at least for the
wings, made of wood and fabric.


And very good woodwork it is. Interestingly tho the wheel panta are carbon
fiber! Go figure.

Robert Mudd
Oh, yes the full George coder quote is "Woods still good, you can trust a tree"

Having helped to build one of those wings (for a Jodel 1050) I can attest to the
cost of manufacture. For one-off manufacture wood is fine - can even be
therapeutic to make something with your hands and simple tools. For economical
production, composite must win hands down.

Robertmudd1u wrote:

the Robin DR400 which is, at least for the
wings, made of wood and fabric.

And very good woodwork it is. Interestingly tho the wheel panta are carbon
fiber! Go figure.


I think this comes from historical reasons. The DR400 is the last of a
family that started with the "Bébé Jodel", named from the beginning of
the names of its 2 conceptors, Joly and Delemontez, which was designed
for cheap amateur construction using a Volkwagen automotive engine. This
one had no wheel panta. The DR400 keeps something of this origin in its
name : D is for Delemontez and R for Robin. I think the basic structure
of the wing is still the same, although the size has changed.

I think this comes from historical reasons.

I understand this; wood wing carbon fiber wheel pants. It is just that at first
sight the mix is rather odd. High tech wheel pants and old fashion wing.

Robert

Robert Ehrlich wrote:
Mark James Boyd wrote:
...
Stay away from wood. There's a reason it is uncommon
in current aircraft manufacturing.
...

Maybe uncommon in the USA, in France the most common 4 seats
airplane is probably the Robin DR400 which is, at least for the
wings, made of wood and fabric. Also widely used as a tow plane.

Oh, and keep in mind that this is just my opinion. I'm sure
there are lots of happy wood plane owners who love the things.
To each his own...


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Mark J. Boyd