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In article Ad6gg.5190$771.1108@edtnps89,
(Ken Chaddock) wrote:
The predominantly wooden deHavilland Mosquito was
one of the first aircraft to be designed with this capability
in mind. Against World War II radar systems, that approach was
fairly successful, but it would not be appropriate today.
I think stealth came way down the list when the Mosquito was
designed, especially as radar was so secret those days. Design of
the Mosquito started in 1938 when German Radar was unknown. It
was more likely wood was adopted because De Haviland had far more
experience with that material than metal. IIRC the DH4 had a
monocoque fuselage.
Ken Young
Plus there was a surfeit of woodworkers, joiners and cabinet makers unable
to practise their normal trade due to the war economy. The complement of
metal-bashers were committed to aircraft and vehicle manufacture, and the
'new' science of laminated materials utilising resins was becoming
available. All these factors culminated in the 'Ministry of Aircraft
Production(?)' authorising the production of the wooden-hulled aircraft and
allocating the necessary engines and hydraulic componentry to DH.
The book 'The New Science of Strong Materials - or Why You Don't Fall
Through the Floor' is recommended for the background to the development of
the Mosquito airframe.
--
Brian