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Plastic Planes

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WishIhadaLandy:
they've been using composite's in the light plane industry for a while now, cirrus and europa are both mainly composite, and they've been round for 5 ish years now, with i think just some metal bracing with in the wings and obviously the components that have to be metal i.e. the engine :wink:

A huge proportion of modern kit planes are also composites now because it is so much easier to make it into stremline shapes that still have good structural strength.

blackbob:
wots wrong with ply wood and cloth :D

MTyrrell:
The use composite parts some modern commercial aircraft at the moment.  
 The  internal skeleton of the tail for the A380 is entirely made of composite material. Not sure about the external skin but from what I have been told that's composite too.

 I’d image that the technologies there to produce an entirely composite commercial aircraft, probably increases manufacturing costs compaired to alli though.

Eeyore:

--- Quote from: "MTyrrell" ---
 I’d image that the technologies there to produce an entirely composite commercial aircraft, probably increases manufacturing costs compaired to alli though.
--- End quote ---


Now there's the other big question!

I guess a lot of the probelm with ali in planes in shaping it and joining it. Stuff is machined from big blocks down to virtually nowt, any welds have to be made, checked and rechecked. Arguabley, with composites, you could make big spars and mudules in one peice.

Maybe any increased manufacturing costs are off-set by a reduced cost of ownership?

Man, would like to see the business case for a new palne introduction!

cheers
 8)
Eeyore

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