How's the Composites holding up?

"Vaughn Simon" wrote in message
...

Honestly, no.

If you go to a gliderport, you won't see many gliders tied out in full
sunlight as is common with airplanes. Usually they are disassembled and
stashed away in covered trailers specifically to protect their expensive
finish from the degrading effects of the sun. That said, if you find an
old G109 motorglider tied out at an airport, (it looks like an airplane
with long wings) you are possibly looking at a composite aircraft that has
actually survived decades in full sunlight, and done so quite well.

Vaughn

I think you are missing the simple stuff.......
If you go to an Airport, you won't see many composite airplanes tied out in
the open.
They are almost universally hangared, which I might add is a better climate
than a trailer
in the sun, on the line at Minden, Cal City or any of the other great
soaring spots.
I believe 30 year old sailplanes in trailers are directly comparable to
hangared composite
aircraft, and the use of a hangar is BETTER for the airframe than a trailer
in regards to control
of temperatures inside the box. Early composite sailplanes remain airworthy
despite the use
of rolling ovens, a risk composite airplanes are not subjected too.

Scott.