RE: Are we sacrificing strength for weight?
T BOB,
It is interesting you post that picture of the Planes Plus Extra 330L. That plane is the reason for this post to begin with. I used to have that plane, it survived seven 10 minutes flights and on the 8th flight the wing snapped off in mid flight and down she came. I dont think strength was the issue more so piss poor quality of building is what caused the crash. I am guessing that some of the covering lifted a bit (after being ironed down three times) and then ripped open the leading edge sheeting which caused air to get inside the wing and that was all it took to completely destroy the wing.
When we looked at the wing half that snapped off there was very little (or none at all) glue holding the wing ribs to the leading edge sheeting and very little glue holding the wing ribs to the the spar. Interesting enough the wing tube held firm in the fuse and all the support structure around the wing tube just broke away. So all that being said I was thinking if there was some short cuts taken in the way the wing was designed to save weight and in this case the short cut they took was the use of GLUE. Of course now Planes Plus is out of business, Carla and crew are no where to be found, no one will divulge who the factory in China was that built their planes, although I did hear it was the same factory that made planes for Chip Hyde and I heard they are out of business too. So I have no recourse to get any replacement plane although I am not sure I want one.
Since then I have purchased an ARC from Aeroworks of their Extra 260 QB version and I will tell you this plane is really well built, parts are tight, square and glued very well. I have actually had to fill in some lightening holes so I have places to put some switches, but this plane is a really well built. Covering it took some work and I still have to cover the fuse but it is sure nice to have access to all sides of the fuse when you are running elevator leads and rudder pull pull cables. Would I buy another ARF, I don't think so, Buying an ARC gives me a chance to see it "in the bones" and make any necessary additions before it is covered. Also get to choose my own design so there is not 4 or 5 of them at your flying club.
I just hope anyone flying one of those Planes Plus Extra's does so with caution...it may have an expiry date on all the glue joints, if there is any glue at all!
Cheers,
Hooked.