On 23 Dec 2003 10:55:11 -0800, (asennad) wrote:

I remember seeing an article several years ago on a car company
developing a racecar using a bonded aluminum structure and rivet
reinforcing. It struck me at the time that this would make an improved
method of aircraft construction and I was wondering if this had been
used before on homebuilt aircraft and what might be the pitfalls of
such a system.

My thinking is that the aircraft's aluminum skins could be attached
over a wooden buck and adhesive used to attach the skins. Once the
adhesive has setup, the bulkheads could be installed, holes drilled
and rivets set. The rivets would still from the primary means of
fastening the panels and the adhesive could serve as extra
reinforcement.

I suggest this as I suspect it would make for a quicker way of
construction particularly as the buck could be reused for subsequent
aircraft.

Do you get Sport Aviation? The most recent issue highlited a Harmon
Rocket that was skinned using a bonding agent and rivets. The guy
apparently is a true perfectionist though, he literally built an
"exoskeleton" that exactly mimicked the external skin. He used the
exoskeleton to hold the skin against the ribs to press the skin to the
ribs and the bonding agent. He riveted at the same time.

I think the guy liked building things.

Corky Scott