Stupid Question from a newbie

"Denny" wrote in message
oups.com...
I draw the line at duct tape...

Denny, our aircraft uses duct tape, it's just not a structural member, it's
used for sealing gaps
--
..
..
Cheers,
Model Flyer
MS880B EI-BFR


denny

"expresstechonsite" wrote in message
And now for the REALLLY stupid question... what about using PVC tubing?
I know that PVC is much more flexible than steel or aluminum tube, but
could it work? The reason I ask is because I keep thinking that if we
once made airframes out of wood, then wouldn't PVC be just about as
strong and more durable (long lasting?).

Wood has excellent fatigue properties. Airplanes vibrate a lot. PVC could be
engineered to accept the loads of a light plane, though it wouldn't be as
efficient and it would probably crack in the near future at an inopportune
time.

D.

("Anthony W" wrote)
But it sure sounds fun to dream about it . . .

So is dreaming about sleeping with a super model but neither is going to
happen. ;o)


If she's sleeping you've got a serious design flaw in your dream!


Montblack
I seldom remember my dreams. "Drat!"

expresstechonsite wrote:
Thanks for answering... I was already pretty sure that I'd get those
answers but I was hoping that I was wrong so I could try something a
little different (and cheap). I hope that you at least got a little
giggle out of my lack of knowledge with such silly questions (since
they were so obviously silly)

Don't sweat it, I ask stupid questions all the time.

The only stupid question is the one you don't ask--when you
really need the answer!

--

FF

expresstechonsite wrote:

... The reason I ask is because I keep thinking that if we
once made airframes out of wood, then wouldn't PVC be just about as
strong and more durable (long lasting?).


Many woods have an excellent (small) wieght to strength ratio, much
better than PVC. But where wood really excels over plastics in
general is the weight to _stiffness_ ratio.

Strength determines how much force is needed to
permanently deform something. Stiffness determines
how much something deforms elastically (meaning it
rebounds to its original shape when the force is removed)
for a given force.

There are a number of other material properties relevant
to the issue of airplane construction as well.

That said, I have seen photos of a light plane made from
aluminum ladders. One segment was used for the wing,
another for the horizontal stabilizer and another for the
fuselage. The fuselage had another, shorter segment
stacked onto the other where the wing was joined,
sort of like a leaf spring.

--

FF

On Fri, 26 May 2006 20:50:33 +0100, "Modelflyer" wrote:


"Denny" wrote in message
oups.com...
I draw the line at duct tape...

Denny, our aircraft uses duct tape, it's just not a structural member, it's
used for sealing gaps

....like the aileron gaps, on Fly Babies.

http://www.bowersflybaby.com/tech/advice.html#gap

Ron Wanttaja

".Blueskies." wrote in
. com:


"Denny" wrote in message
oups.com...
You can build an airplane out of 1030 mild steel tubing..
You can build an airplane out of wood and fabric...
You can build an airplane out of fiberglass and resin...
You can build an airplane out of plywood...

Go to the EAA site and order a couple of books... Tony BIngelis
wrote a good series... ALex Strojnik also has a great series of
books... REad and understand these two authors and you will be the
new Burt Rutan...

cheers ... denny



You can build a plane out of bamboo, plastic sheet, and duct tape...




Where can I get plans for this plane? It sounds like it would light
enough to use a leaf blower as a jet engine. G

Montblack wrote:
("Anthony W" wrote)
But it sure sounds fun to dream about it . . .

So is dreaming about sleeping with a super model but neither is going
to happen. ;o)


If she's sleeping you've got a serious design flaw in your dream!


Montblack
I seldom remember my dreams. "Drat!"

Lately I've been trying to keep my posts "G" rated. The sleeping is
after the more fun part. ;o)

Tony