Nooby question, considering airplane designs like the Sonerai which is relatively light using tube and fabric. But I was wondering why chromoly steel tubing is used instead of 6061 aluminum tubing? My understanding is that a larger diameter Al tubing is stronger and lighter than steel. An example is in the bicycle realm where aluminum replaced steel many years ago because engineers realized that by increasing the diameter of the Al tubing would give greater strength at a lighter weight than the smaller diameter steel.
I know there must be a reason why aircraft design does not use it otherwise it would be used. Is it simply because Al is harder to weld?
I know there must be a reason why aircraft design does not use it otherwise it would be used. Is it simply because Al is harder to weld?
