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norton(at)optonline.net
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 Posted: Wed Mar 21, 2007 4:13 pm Post subject: composite vs. aluminum thx for GREAT responses |
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Something I did not remember and hence didn't mention. About 40 years
ago I worked in Maine boatyard. Back then there were two common
idiosycracies in working with fiberglass. One, we noticed a number of
large fiberglass boats that had struck submerged rocks (reefs) split
right down the keel line. Over the next few design and construction
changes seemed to have eliminated this problem, or perhaps people
learned where the rocks were. The second issue was people building
glass boats tended to use a lot of fiberglass and the earlier production
models were very very heavy. In boat building this was a good thing for
the customer because the boats were virtually bullet proof. Those early
models are still in demand today by commercial fishermen. However, with
light airplanes, (particularly home built) this might be a big problem.
I would guess that it would be hard to estimate if the partially
completed plane is over weight. A two seater doesn't have a lot of
payload capacity and 25 extra pounds of glass could easily be hidden in
the plane. Anyway, it looks like the same problems that haunted the
composite boats 40 years ago haunt the composite planes today. I
haven't given up on either plane yet, just deciding to wait longer and
get more information. I think that I will begin the 601 rudder because
it won't cost me much more than I already spent and I like building
stuff. I understand there is a whole pile of rudders stored at the
Zenith plant made by potential customers who have changed their minds.
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Float Flyr
Joined: 19 Jul 2006
Posts: 2704
Location: Campbellton, Newfoundland
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| Posted: Wed Mar 21, 2007 6:36 pm Post subject: composite vs. aluminum thx for GREAT responses |
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I think in the early days of fibre glass the perception was it was the resin
that gave strength to the glass. In fact the greatest strength is when the
weight of the cloth is and glass is about 70:30 in favour of the cloth. the
problem with this type of light weight glass is it is somewhat porous. To
effectively keep water out or gas in, as the case may be, there has to be a
resilient impervious coating to the glass. If this coating is marred then
there are a raft of un nice things that can happen. Things like water
permeation and then freezing which can cause delaminating of the glass at
the worst possible time.
Noel
[quote] --
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_________________
Noel Loveys
Kitfox III-A
Aerocet 1100 Floats |
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mattreeves(at)yahoo.com
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| Posted: Wed Mar 21, 2007 8:05 pm Post subject: composite vs. aluminum thx for GREAT responses |
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I built a Lancair and my brother built a Van's RV-7A so we have this debate ALL the time. Bottom line is who you are. If you like sanding sanding sanding sanding sanding sanding and a ton more sanding, build fiberglass but if you are a nuts and bolts guy, build metal.
Zenith is an awesome kit. Buy it, build it, fly it, and have a TON of fun no matter what you build!!!
You only live once and you ain't getting any younger so DO IT!!
Matt, Jesse, Danny, Mikhail, and Baby Ben Reeves - all airplane builders and all-around mostly good guys.
Noel Loveys <noelloveys(at)yahoo.ca> wrote:
[quote]--> Zenith-List message posted by: "Noel Loveys"
I think in the early days of fibre glass the perception was it was the resin
that gave strength to the glass. In fact the greatest strength is when the
weight of the cloth is and glass is about 70:30 in favour of the cloth. the
problem with this type of light weight glass is it is somewhat porous. To
effectively keep water out or gas in, as the case may be, there has to be a
resilient impervious coating to the glass. If this coating is marred then
there are a raft of un nice things that can happen. Things like water
permeation and then freezing which can cause delaminating of the glass at
the worst possible time.
Noel
[quote] --
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