Mike Armstrong
Well-Known Member
Hi all, I would like to ask a general question about fuselages. I
love the look of aluminum, especially on the classic 30's looking
planes. However, I'm finding it diffacult to find a homebuilt
aircraft that I like that has aluminum skins with that classic 30's look. My favorite aircraft is
the Ryan ST-A, the closest I've come to this are the Warner
Aerocrafts designs. Their Sportster is currently being redesigned to
meet the LSA regs, including changing the wing from wood to all
aluminum.
Its fuselage is almost entirely welded steel tube (4130)
construction with fabric covering. Its my understanding, that unlike monocoque
construction where the fuselage skin plays a major role in the
stregnth and rigidity of the aircraft, that with a welded steel tube
frame the skins are for the most part only there for aerodynamic
reasons (airflow) and not for overall stregnth and rigidity.
If thats true, why couldn't light aluminum bulkheads be added to the
fuselage when its welded up to give aluminum skins attachment points?
I realize the aluminum might add to the overall weight of the
aircraft (and require a re-calc of weight and balance and power
requirements) but just how much compared to the weight of all the
dope and fabric?
It all sounds so simple but I know right well there is much more to
it than that so I'm posing this question to find answers. Thanks
Mike Armstrong
http://www.warnerair.com/
http://www.airminded.net/st/st.html
love the look of aluminum, especially on the classic 30's looking
planes. However, I'm finding it diffacult to find a homebuilt
aircraft that I like that has aluminum skins with that classic 30's look. My favorite aircraft is
the Ryan ST-A, the closest I've come to this are the Warner
Aerocrafts designs. Their Sportster is currently being redesigned to
meet the LSA regs, including changing the wing from wood to all
aluminum.
Its fuselage is almost entirely welded steel tube (4130)
construction with fabric covering. Its my understanding, that unlike monocoque
construction where the fuselage skin plays a major role in the
stregnth and rigidity of the aircraft, that with a welded steel tube
frame the skins are for the most part only there for aerodynamic
reasons (airflow) and not for overall stregnth and rigidity.
If thats true, why couldn't light aluminum bulkheads be added to the
fuselage when its welded up to give aluminum skins attachment points?
I realize the aluminum might add to the overall weight of the
aircraft (and require a re-calc of weight and balance and power
requirements) but just how much compared to the weight of all the
dope and fabric?
It all sounds so simple but I know right well there is much more to
it than that so I'm posing this question to find answers. Thanks
Mike Armstrong
http://www.warnerair.com/
http://www.airminded.net/st/st.html
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