How's the Composites holding up?

"Jeff" jfranks1971 minus wrote in message
...

"BobR" wrote in message
oups.com...
I would say that the ongoing, expanded use of composites in both the
experimental aircraft field along with production aircraft should
answer any questions. The use of composites in the large commercial
aircraft is increasing an a much faster rate than in the small plane
market although the Cirrus might prove an exception to that fact.



I didn't mean to sound as if I was saying there was anything wrong. I
assumed that newer "versions" of composites and processes had made it much
better and safer. I just wondered if the original composite planes ever
experienced any of the "doom" problems over time....it would appear not

jf
One example is the Glasflugel Libelle first-generation composite sailplane
first sold in the mid 1960's. Most of them are still flying and in
beautiful condition to boot. They sell on the used market for 10,000 to
15,000 Dollars.

A few of the early composite gliders used balsa core sandwich construction.
If the core got wet and fungal rot started, the structure is toast.
Construction techniques switched to closed cell foam core early on so these
are rare.

I understand some current glider construction techniques eliminate the
sandwich and go with solid pre-preg carbon skins. It's posible to eliminate
the spars too and build a wing that is simply a hollow airfoil shaped tube.

Bill Daniels

In article ,
"Bill Daniels" bildan@comcast-dot-net wrote:

One example is the Glasflugel Libelle first-generation composite sailplane
first sold in the mid 1960's. Most of them are still flying and in
beautiful condition to boot. They sell on the used market for 10,000 to
15,000 Dollars.



Yep, I own H301 Libelle #19. She's 42 this year. Flew 5 or 6 flights of
200 miles long or more this past spring. About 2500 hours flying time.
I've put about 300 on her in the 5 years I've owned her. Flown through
some hellacious turbulence and some pretty hard cowpasture landings.
She's still smooth and shiny although some small areas of finish are
starting to turn a bit yellow. No structural problems. No AD's on the
composite structure.

The more modern composite birds like the Diamond DA-20 hold up pretty
well even sitting out in the weather for years.