"Shawn Curry" wrote in message
...
Mark Brown wrote:

Ok im really bored and I thoguht i would open a can
of worms..has Standard Class Design reached a plateau?
and if so where do we go from here?


Yes?
The way (most) composite sailplanes are made, wet hand layup of cloth,
is ancient history in composite fabrication. Some newer material
technology like the pre-preg cloth construction of the Sparrowhawk (and
Duckhawk I assume?) and the carbon rod spar of the Genesis are a couple
examples of how new designers are wait.......here it comes.
Anyone care to comment if these light pre-preg composites are repairable if
damaged?

Breaking the Mold! Thank you , thank you. :-)
Also, technology in sail making can custom weave a sail on a mold thread
by thread (more or less). Could a glider fusalage be spun out on a
mold? dunno. Also, the new Eclipse mini-busjet uses a high tech
welding technique for its aluminum skin, eliminating rivets (or at least
a lot of them).
Ever seen Rutan's Boomerang? Been done, in Montrose IIRC. Filament winding
composite structures like a glider fuselage would likely take several
uninterrupted hours, given the nature of the method. Can't stop once you've
started. But it's certainly doable.

These new fabrication techniques can reduce limitations set by materials
and weight (but probably not cost. )-: ). If a thinner airfoil is
better, but couldn't be constructed using old techniques, new materials
can make it possible. In some cases perhaps construction could be made
less expensive. Haven't heard of any big advances in making the smooth
surface required by laminar flow, without lots of sanding, but only a
ludite would tell you it can't be done. Not big incentive on the part
of the manufacturers to change. Maybe the Duckhawk or Diana II will
start shaking the old men awake :-)

At the Diana 2 talk at the SSA convention, the question was asked that if
someone damaged the structure of a Diana 2 wing, could it be repaired at one
of the regular repair stations. The reply was no, with the caveat that if
the glider is very successful in sales, such a repair service could be made
available in North America, perhaps. The potential impact on insurance
coverage might be substantial. Some of the research behind the Diana 2 has
involved the ideas, methods, and review of some of those old men BTW.

Maybe the Cole's can comment on the Sparrowhawk's repairability.

Frank Whiteley
Colorado