Roost Air Lounge => The Classroom => Topic started by: Oddball on January 22, 2008, 06:14:23 PM
Title: materials used on modern aircraft
Post by: Oddball on January 22, 2008, 06:14:23 PM
I have to write a 800-1000 word report on materials used on modern aircraft E.G glass fibre,carbon fibre etc for tommorrow as part of my course work and was just wondering how does it affect how your aircraft are maintained? is it difficult or easy to repair and maintain and where about is there any composite materials used on your type of aircraft?
Title: Re: materials used on modern aircraft
Post by: undatc on January 22, 2008, 06:44:16 PM
Well from my limited experience and what I've heard, one reason UND didnt go with Diamond aircraft was the fact that they are made of fiberglass. Due to extreme hard landing or repeated hard landings, it makes it very expensive/difficult to repair a cracked wing or body, some times even totaling an aircraft. Where as with metal GA aircraft, you can usually pull off a wing, or tail or whatever is damaged and just replace it.
You cant really use that as a source, but it might give you an idea of where to start. Look around, do some searches for aluminum vs. fiberglass aircraft or something similar. GL.
Title: Re: materials used on modern aircraft
Post by: Oddball on January 22, 2008, 07:28:03 PM
thanks undtac just really want other peoples point of view really text books can only tell you so much
Title: Re: materials used on modern aircraft
Post by: leiafee on January 22, 2008, 07:36:04 PM
Nothing but fibreglass wingtips on my tommyhawk. Nothing more complicated maintenancewise on them than a couple of stop holes drilled in them due to cracking from the screw. Only one one wing though, something's been unevenly done there at some point methinks.
Composite aircraft look lovely and curvy and whizzbang speedy, but I expect you've already done the research for all th usual pluses and minuses.
There are people specialising in composite repairs, I red an article in (I think) the PFA mag a while ago about someone who specialised in it -- I was suprised at how great the damage was that was still repairable.
Title: Re: materials used on modern aircraft
Post by: Mike on January 22, 2008, 09:15:46 PM
it's been a while but from what I remember, fiberglass has very few structural repairs approved as compared to aluminum...
On the Diamond planes I worked on (in the early nineties), you couldn't do any repairs. If you dinged the rudder, you just bought a new one.
But I think that by now they might be more durable. Fiberglass has come a long way.
Title: Re: materials used on modern aircraft
Post by: G-man on January 22, 2008, 09:38:05 PM
So tell me bout all that duct tape on Panaca Jane ::whistle:: ::whistle::
ahem . . . ::whistle::
that's why I said "structural" . . . . I assume there is a little lee-way on the other parts . . . *cough* ::)
Title: Re: materials used on modern aircraft
Post by: Oddball on January 22, 2008, 11:33:13 PM
been reading through my text books again it does say you can repair glass fibre but reading between the lines i think what it really means as long as you know what you are doing and qualified enough you can do repairs
Title: Re: materials used on modern aircraft
Post by: BrianGMFS on January 22, 2008, 11:44:36 PM
The shop where I work is an authorized Cirrus Service Center. Our lead Mechanic/Chief inspector had to go to school for composite repairs. right now we are in the process of doing some WAAS upgrades on 4 Cirrus' (three SR-22's and one SR-20) this is a 5-7 day project per plane requiring the complete removal of the interior, installation of the new antenna, composite work to the fuselage to make sure the carbon fibre is electrically connected to the antenna (ground plane), reprogramming the Garmin's, paint work and then reinstalling the interior. Conversely, they did a WAAS upgrade to a Cessna 182... took less than one day... install new GPS antenna, reprogram Gamin... Hand customer the bill ::rofl::
Something to be said for Aluminum....
Brian
Title: Re: materials used on modern aircraft
Post by: PiperGirl on January 23, 2008, 02:32:47 PM
it's been a while but from what I remember, fiberglass has very few structural repairs approved as compared to aluminum...
On the Diamond planes I worked on (in the early nineties), you couldn't do any repairs. If you dinged the rudder, you just bought a new one.
But I think that by now they might be more durable. Fiberglass has come a long way.
We had a diamond at our flight school for a while. As far as flying was concerned, the plane was pretty nice. On the ground though, it seemed to always get a bit of hanger rash here and there and was much more complicated to repair than hanger rash on the sheet metal of a C172. Overall it was a bit more finicky.
Title: Re: materials used on modern aircraft
Post by: PiperGirl on January 23, 2008, 02:35:38 PM
So tell me bout all that duct tape on Panaca Jane ::whistle:: ::whistle::
ahem . . . ::whistle::
that's why I said "structural" . . . . I assume there is a little lee-way on the other parts . . . *cough* ::)
Duct Tape Rocks ;D ! had a friend who *ahem* secured the nose cone of his twin Navion with duct tape *ahem*. I guess the FAA wasn't so impressed with his creativity.
Title: Re: materials used on modern aircraft
Post by: Rooster Cruiser on January 23, 2008, 03:27:47 PM
Quote
right now we are in the process of doing some WAAS upgrades on 4 Cirrus'
What is the correct plural spelling for "Cirrus"? Would it be "Cirri"? ::thinking:: ::) :P
Title: Re: materials used on modern aircraft
Post by: Zaffex on January 23, 2008, 08:52:49 PM
Well from my limited experience and what I've heard, one reason UND didnt go with Diamond aircraft was the fact that they are made of fiberglass. Due to extreme hard landing or repeated hard landings, it makes it very expensive/difficult to repair a cracked wing or body, some times even totaling an aircraft.
I bet there happy they didn't get them now. A new ad just game out and grounded the twinstar because of catastrophic engine failures after both ecus quit.
Title: Re: materials used on modern aircraft
Post by: undatc on March 21, 2008, 02:10:28 AM
I bet there happy they didn't get them now. A new ad just game out and grounded the twinstar because of catastrophic engine failures after both ecus quit.
Not sure. my roomie is a CFI for UND right now, and he told my that they are back trying to schmooze them once again. This time they brought up like 10 diamond stars. He took a flight in it and says he never wants to go back to piper.
Title: Re: materials used on modern aircraft
Post by: airtac on March 23, 2008, 02:47:25 AM
Well from my limited experience and what I've heard, one reason UND didnt go with Diamond aircraft was the fact that they are made of fiberglass. Due to extreme hard landing or repeated hard landings, it makes it very expensive/difficult to repair a cracked wing or body, some times even totaling an aircraft.
I bet there happy they didn't get them now. A new ad just game out and grounded the twinstar because of catastrophic engine failures after both ecus quit.
What's the issue date on that new AD?
Title: Re: materials used on modern aircraft
Post by: Baradium on March 23, 2008, 04:09:30 AM
What Jim said...
I know they'd already made a change to the power sourcing with independent backups at each ECU...
Title: Re: materials used on modern aircraft
Post by: airtac on March 23, 2008, 03:57:44 PM
As I understand it (info from factory rep and AOPA independently) the battery had gone dead, the airplane jumped from a start cart and then flown without CHARGING the batteries so when they retracted the gear it overloaded the charging system which in turn killed the ECU's causing a multi engine failure--a fix has been implemented and the aircraft are being flown again. I recently was invited to an open house for Diamond A/C and I've got to say that I'm truly impressed with this company's adherence to the KISS principle of design---another reason I envy you young pilots---you'll be flying these beautiful aircraft, and other great new designs, far into the future |:)\
Title: Re: materials used on modern aircraft
Post by: TheSoccerMom on March 23, 2008, 04:01:36 PM
Which just goes to show ya, you get in trouble when your Kiliwinkles don't work right..... ::whistle::
