Desert Sailplane storage

GM wrote:
Robertmudd1u wrote:

snip
All new Cobra trailers are painted black inside and have been for

some time for

just this reason. My 1999 one is black inside.


Robert Mudd


One could also epoxy a layer of heavy duty houshold aluminum foil to
the inside of a fiber-glass shell trailer. If any UV radiation gets
through that, we have a much bigger problem on our hands. ;-)
Uli Neumann

I was thinking of using 3M adhesive spray for this. Then again, my ship
is 27 yo and has lived most of its life in a fiberglass trailer in
Colorado (5500-7500 ft msl), so what really is the point?

Shawn

I think the key question is, Has anyone done any studies to see how much UV
really penetrates through the trailer? Solutions are great, but I really
question whether any UV really does penetrate through the paint and fiberglass
shell.


Jim Vincent
N483SZ
illspam

Jim Vincent wrote:
I think the key question is, Has anyone done any studies to see how
much UV
really penetrates through the trailer? Solutions are great, but I
really
question whether any UV really does penetrate through the paint and
fiberglass
shell.


Jim Vincent
N483SZ
illspam

Jim,

I raised that question with the 'Experts' of Edmund Optical. They were
clueless as far as detecting and/or measuring UV light. Does anybody
have a practical idea? Are there UV-meters?

Uli Neumann

I raised that question with the 'Experts' of Edmund Optical. They were
clueless as far as detecting and/or measuring UV light. Does anybody
have a practical idea? Are there UV-meters?


I googled around and found a company called solar.com that happens to be in my
area. I'll call them on Tuesday and see if they might be willing to loan me an
instrument for 20 minutes. I'm willing to drive my trailer down to their
office to see what the results are. I'll post any results here.

Jim Vincent
N483SZ
illspam

A somewhat easier solution is to get a "black light" out of your attic from
when you had all of those black light posters in high school...they transmit
mostly UV-A. Have someone stand on the outside of your trailer at night and
crawl inside to see what light is transmitted. Little if any gets through
but you would do best to prove it to yourself.

Besides it may even inspire you to take a trip down to the local "head shop"
and buy a few more posters of Jimi Hendrix. ;-)

Casey Lenox
KC
Phoenix

A somewhat easier solution is to get a "black light" out of your attic from
when you had all of those black light posters in high school..

Can't do that...I still use mine! Hendrix rules, dude!

Jim Vincent
N483SZ
illspam

somewhat easier solution is to get a "black light" out of your attic from
when you had all of those black light posters in high school...they transmit

I don't think that would work. A black light transmits both in the visible
light and UV frequency spectrums. Each frequency is attenuated, reflected, or
absorbed differently by a material.

If you see light coming through the trailer when shining the black light, all
you can deduce is that the visible light transmitted through the trailer,
nothing about whether the UV.

Jim Vincent
N483SZ
illspam

Jim Vincent wrote:
somewhat easier solution is to get a "black light" out of your attic from
when you had all of those black light posters in high school...they transmit


I don't think that would work. A black light transmits both in the visible
light and UV frequency spectrums. Each frequency is attenuated, reflected, or
absorbed differently by a material.

If you see light coming through the trailer when shining the black light, all
you can deduce is that the visible light transmitted through the trailer,
nothing about whether the UV.

You have to bring your Metallica black light poster with you and see if
it glows.

Shawn

UV-A and UV-B light penetrates poorly through anything that is tinted. Also
tightly woven materials do not allow penetration. Most of us have had "tan
lines" at some point with your skin being pasty white under your bathing
suit or shirt while the exposed areas are tan or burned.

With a reflective white coating on the outside and the opaque nature of
fiberglass it is highly unlikely that any substantial amount of UV light
gets to the inside of anyones trailer. If anyones wishes to have references
for the science of it all just let me know.

Casey Lenox
KC
Phoenix

Hi,

Are there UV-meters?

There is a very crude method using test-strips that are sometimes
distributed in pharmacies here in germany, especially in the summer
holiday season. These strips are meant to help people avoid sunburn
by indicating a safe time to spend in the sun.

They are made of cardboard and some UV-sensitive paint covered in
some kind of goo. You are supposed to rub off the goo when you go
out. Put the strip next to you on the beach and when it has
changed color according to a scale and instructions printed next
to it you better get out of the sun.

One could use two of these: Put one on the outside of the trailer
and one inside. Time how long it takes the one on the outside to
discolor to a certain degree. Wait until the one on the inside has
taken the same amount of UV. Divide the times and you should arrive
at a rough estimate of how much UV gets through the trailer.

I do not know of anyone who has made such an experiment on a glider
trailer. I did it for car windows a few years ago.

Ciao, MM
--
Marian Aldenhövel, Rosenhain 23, 53123 Bonn. +49 228 624013.
http://www.marian-aldenhoevel.de
"Flying an An-2 is like making love to a fat lady who's had too much to drink:
there's a lot to work with, it's unresponsive, you're never quite sure when
you're there, and it's big-time ugly."