Nanotechnology and soaring

A visit yesterday to Londons science and technology museum yesterday
with the family involved an interesting session in the nanotechnology
display. Of course my mind was occupied with thoughts on how NT could
be applied to soaring/sailplanes and the section on coatings was
particularly rewarding.

Automotive topcoats including Nano Titanuim Oxide offer almost
fantastic resilience to UV and the effects of atmospheric polution.
Self cleaning canopies that are always pristine? Imagine a 20 year old
sailplane with no gelcoat cracks and as white as the day it was
delivered!

The promise of composites based on materials including nanotubes may
mean wing section thicknesses previously thought impossible. How about
an Eta 2 with 50m span?

An interesting experience on a crummy soaring day! Thanks to the new
policy of no entry charge the day only cost about the same as 4 or 5
aerotows.

Ian