My added two cents: Dress lining may or MAY NOT shrink sufficiently to
cover aircraft. I know this by experience. When I was building my
Skypup (which specifies dress sheath lining) I tried the stuff out.
After completing the fuse I had to laboriously peel it off. Apparently
when the construction manual for the Skypup was put together in the
early 80's it was common to find unshrunk sheath lining. You can't be
sure of that anymore. Indeed, it isn't necessary. If you are building a
light simple aircraft, Aircraft Spruce sells uncertified 1.7 oz dacron
for $3.20 a yard. It does everything it is supposed to do and is more
economical than fabric store sheath lining anyway (unless you get it on
sale).

Roger


Stache wrote:
expresstechonsite wrote:
What are the differences between standard "Rip-Stock" material I can
get from my local fabric store (or even wal-mart) for $1.00/yd and the
polyester fabrics approved for covering an aircraft?

I would like say my two cents in on this subject. Type Certificated
(T/C) aircraft must meet a standard to be safe 70% or "C" average.
Experimental aircraft do NOT have to follow any T/C standards. T/C
standards are things that make aircraft safe, this is why the fabric
for T/C aircraft are required to meet a technical standard order (TSO)
standard. Below is the TSO standard for grade "A" fabric, there
are many other now better than grade "A".

Aircraft fabric costs more because it meets a standard. Material
purchased at fabric outlet stores do NOT have to meet any standard cost
less. Are you willing to accept the risk on something unproven? A
copy of AC 43-12-1B is free on the FAA web site, which explain alot of
good stuff about favric and how to test it. The AC is also available
on my web site under experimental aircraft.

TSO-C15d, AIRCRAFT FABRIC, GRADE A
Minimum Performance Standards. This technical standard order (TSO)
prescribes the minimum performance standards that aircraft fabric,
grade A, must meet in order to be identified with the applicable TSO
marking. Aircraft fabrics, grade A, that are to be so identified and
that are manufactured on or after the date of this TSO must meet the
standards set forth in Society of Automotive Engineers, Inc. (SAE),
Aerospace Material Specification (AMS) Document No. AMS 3806D,
"Cloth, Airplane, Cotton, Mercerized 80 lb. (355N) Breaking
Strength," dated April 15, 1980, with the exceptions and additions
covered in subparagraphs a.(2) and a.(3) respectively of this TSO.
Fabric approved prior to the date of this TSO may continue to be
manufactured under the provision of this original approval.

Finishing: The cloth shall be uniformly finished in accordance with the
best practice for high grade airplane cloth. Finishing of cotton cloth
shall consist of washing, framing, and calendaring. The calendaring
shall be sufficient to lay any nap present and shall provide a smooth
even surface. Nap may be removed by singeing. Synthetic cloth shall
remain unfinished (greige).

Stache