Plastic Planes

[old joe]

would you fly on a plastic plane ?

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/5185910.stm

Intresting me thinks I'm not sure?

Dazza

[blackbob]

sounds good to me :D

how easy does it burn though :?

[Lord Shagg-Pyle]

I wonder what would happen if it was left out in the sun too long? Would it start to droop and melt?

[smo]

So they will use carbon and kevlar basically i dont think they will make it any lighter than the aluminium that is currently used as it has different properties and hence will need some much beefier sections in places to handle the loads, thus creating a heavier section offsetting the lighter ones.

Still, a carbon plane would look cool!

[Eeyore]

So they will use carbon and kevlar basically i dont think they will make it any lighter than the aluminium that is currently used as it has different properties and hence will need some much beefier sections in places to handle the loads, thus creating a heavier section offsetting the lighter ones.

Still, a carbon plane would look cool!

Cool it would look.

You've got an interesting point with the composite vs ali, but I think there something else to add to the mix - fatigue life.

Composite structures, generally, have a much superior fatigue life than aluminium and can be much less prone to damage than ali. A composite plane could, in theory weigh significantly less than an all ali vehicle. Enhanced fatigue life means, potentially) less material required. Check out Avitation Enterprises in Berkshire. They make planes (not bigguns, I'll grant). They are now commisioning an all composite plane (and seem to be the furthest down the line of any plane maker in this repsect), which is significantly lighter than their traditionally structured varient. I'll bet it ain't cheap though...

The big down side of composites on aircraft will be environemtnal resistance. Planes are subject to broad specturm of chemicals and temperatures - two things that composites normally are not so good with.

I watch the development with great interest!

cheers
 8)
Eeyore

[WishIhadaLandy]

they've been using composite's in the light plane industry for a while now, cirrus and europa are both mainly composite, and they've been round for 5 ish years now, with i think just some metal bracing with in the wings and obviously the components that have to be metal i.e. the engine

A huge proportion of modern kit planes are also composites now because it is so much easier to make it into stremline shapes that still have good structural strength.

[blackbob]

wots wrong with ply wood and cloth :D

[MTyrrell]

The use composite parts some modern commercial aircraft at the moment.  
 The  internal skeleton of the tail for the A380 is entirely made of composite material. Not sure about the external skin but from what I have been told that's composite too.

 I’d image that the technologies there to produce an entirely composite commercial aircraft, probably increases manufacturing costs compaired to alli though.

[Eeyore]

 I’d image that the technologies there to produce an entirely composite commercial aircraft, probably increases manufacturing costs compaired to alli though.

Now there's the other big question!

I guess a lot of the probelm with ali in planes in shaping it and joining it. Stuff is machined from big blocks down to virtually nowt, any welds have to be made, checked and rechecked. Arguabley, with composites, you could make big spars and mudules in one peice.

Maybe any increased manufacturing costs are off-set by a reduced cost of ownership?

Man, would like to see the business case for a new palne introduction!

cheers
 8)
Eeyore