Kevlar, or other fibers(Spectra) have been added to cockpits and other
parts of fuselages for many years.
The benefit of Kevlar is that it stretches a long way before it fails.
This can extend the deceleration distance during impact and prevent, or
reduce the secondary impulse that occurs when the structure fails. It
also can serve to contain other broken fragments.
A common structure now incorporates carbon fiber( very strong and stiff
but fails catastrophically) with Kevlar or other material of similar
characteristics which fail at longer extension to provide a stiff,
strong and progressively failing structure.
I think it is safe to say we can thank Gerhard Waibel for leading this
innovation. Others now incorporate these improvements.
As to "home improvement", that would obviously depend on the weak
points of the subject glider and experience and capability of the
person working on it.
Long answer with no firm conclusion.
UH
J=2EA.M. wrote:
I think that the ASW-24 and -28 (maybe the -27 as well) are built
with a
kevlar layer in the cockpit. It does not improve strenght, but
provides
splinter protection when the cockpit shatters. Fiberglass when broken
is
extremely sharp, so the kevlar makes the shell stay together and not
splinter.
I may be wrong, so anyone with more knowledge feel free to correct
me!

Good flights (winters almost over...)
Jose M.

"Stewart Kissel"
escribi=F3 en el
mensaje ...
After seeing first hand the eggshell strength properties
of glass cockpits when they hit objects, I have been
thinking about how much protection I don't have between
my spine and terra-firma.

I have the astronaut foam, and otherwise it is just
the seatpan and glass. I was chatting with my A+P
about this while we had the seatpan out during my annual.

Has anyone contemplated and/or added kevlar to their
cockpits? Or is this just a nutty idea? I assume
their would be a weight and balance issue, and also
determining if the layup would in fact to any good.
Comments?