ORIGINAL: Aussie_Knife_Edge
Hi Ola,
I think the main advantages of composite wings is consistency of finished product due to a mold being used and paint finish i.e. no steps in paint lines. Most fuses are molded for consistency and complex shapes.
Weight is a penalty but composite wings are getting lighter.
Regards,
Jason.
OK Iam assuming that composite = Carbon fibre/kevlar skins and hollow?or foam cored?
Sheeted = Foam core with balsa sheeting and glass or film covering
buolt up weel thats obvious.
foam core can be just as consistent as moulded composite wings because foam core/balsa sheeted can alsobe produced in a mould. You may not want to but too reduce voids and keep resin useage down it can be preformd and then bonded in a mould (although a vacuum bag technique is more commonly used.
I believe an advantage to a composite wing is that it can be built lighter at the tips where the wing sees less bending stresses. It can also argueable be built stiffer but I don;t see an advantage here because stiff enough is stiff enough. A wing that islighter at teh tips will allow for a lower roll ineria resulting in faster and more precise snap rolls.
However that can be overcome with faster servo's or a slightly larger control surface.
Ultimately the difference is not so much in the material but in the overall design