ORIGINAL: mithrandir
ORIGINAL: Roberto B.
ORIGINAL: mithrandir
ORIGINAL: anders12
A correctly designed and built all wood wing is lighter and stiffer than a foamwing and the compositewings seen in kits sofar.
As said many times, ''wood flies better!''
Anders J
based on the several composite wings I have seen to date....
Composite wings are heavier because they are simply not optimized. I doubt any of the composite ARF manufacturers actually employs an engineer to design the wing structure.
I could make a composite wing stronger and stiffer for the same weight as a foam wing....
I'm Sorry, but what you say is wrong.
Simply because we already use the lightest materials available.
Plus, We have to deal with the ''ding'' resistance if the surface, that is already rather poor.
Try yourself to make one and you'll see.
The only area where it is possible to save weight is in the more accurate use of the resin quantity into the laminate and the gluing. It's all a matter of skill and time.
I have been in the composites business for a while....
What I say is correct.... You don't know everything do you!!?? lol
I might point out the RC sailplane wings are not even cutting edge in construction and they have pretty low weights...
unfortunately.. my life is too busy now to prove I am correct....
I'm sorry to inform you that I work in the composite industry since 25 years, ranging from design department in Agusta Helicopters to composite manufacturing in Ferrari F1, with a composite model business in the middle and many many other experiences as a composite consultant in many fields, and actually owning a company that builds carbon parts for helicopters and automotive industry.
SO, I'm sure I have enough theoretical and practical skills to state what I'm saying. And I can prove it for example, saying that the fuselages I made for Sebastiano Silvestri's Look@me weighted less than 700gr, with canopies and painted in the mold.
http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/m_97.../tm.htm#970061
Of course, all my comments are referred to the F3A world. I'm not into sailplanes.