The discussion on the advantages and disadvantages of wood and composite airframes turned into discussing custom built kits and composite airframes.At no point in the discussions was a wood ARF considered a top competition airframe.
The advantages of a custom built kit were:
- Easy to make any modifications you want while the kit is being built
- Stiffness of the airframe and wings can be integrated throughout the entire structure if planned and executed correctly
- Options for lightening during construction
- Easier to repair
The disadvantages of a wood kit were:
- Competition wood airplanes have to be built
- Susceptible to hangar rash
- Absorb fuel and smoke into them
- Airframe quality depends on the wood in the kit
- Not as forgiving to weather (climate change humid to dry and vice versa)
- Covering can bubble and wrinkle
- More maintenance (have to keep a close eye on stringers and formers that pop loose)
- Changes with age
- Deteriorates over time
- Not easily replaceable parts
The advantages of a composite airframe were:
- They have a great finish and are quick to assemble
- The composite planes always look brand new!
- Fit together better in the long run
- Easier to build
- Stronger
- Ailerons are stiffer
- Don’t have to deal with covering
- Handle climate and weather better
- Exact same plane every time
- Easy to duplicate setup on backup plane
- Easy to get replacement parts
- Interchangeable parts
- Easier to fit canisters inside (lots of room inside)
- Basically maintenance free
The disadvantages of a composite airframe were:
- Cannot modify anything on them
- Usually the wings are heavier
- Trailing edges aren’t thick enough
- Any damage takes a different skill set to repair