Why no plywood monocoque homebuilts?

On 26 Oct 2006 16:29:01 -0700, wrote:


wrote:
Suprisingly I keep coming back to wood as material for mass production
since the whole of the structure could be made of one material. There
are obvious logistic benefits there, and I think most wood techniques
could be practically achieved robotically.

Wood, especially good wood, is getting scarcer all the time.
Consistently good wood is hard to find. It's the reason ladder
manufacturers went to aluminum and/or fiberglass a long time ago. The
big Sitka Spruce and other types of trees that gave us good
aircraft-grade wood mostly went to build houses a long time ago when it
seemed we'd never run out of the stuff. What's left is protected in
parks.
Wood also needs more care in storage; it doesn't survive well
in moist conditions, especially warm, moist conditions, and the heat of
an intense sun can dry it out beyond the ideal 15% moisture content and
make if brash. Glues suffer in the heat. Wooden airplanes burn easily.
Gluing wood in the factory is a tedious affair, requiring a lot of
clamps, patience, and accuracy the first time. You can't CNC-punch
wooden sheets like you can aluminum.
The companies that used to build wooden airplanes gave it up
long ago. I think the Bellanca Viking was among the last airplane to
use significant wood in it (in the wing). Is the Falco still in
production? How much does it retail for?
Aluminum and composites start to look better all the time, huh?

Dan

good points dan but the market doesent care where or how the aircraft
is made.
the market wants a product that is fit for the purpose and durable and
cheap.
achieving all 3 is the engineering challenge.

aluminium has known engineering characteristics and has chemistry
available that can passivate the surface and make it durable.

composites have the benefit of being able to be shaped into exotic
aerodynamically slick shapes.

wood is lovely stuff to work with in the home workshop for private
amusement. has a number of permanent glues and can make lovely
aeroplanes. slow as hell and the materials are more variable than the
prior two. the aircraft require hangaring.

for commercial production aluminium and/or composite are the worlds
market leaders because they are the most economic engineering
solutions.
ymmv
Stealth Pilot