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  1. W

    Stall Spin Resistance, a call to action...

    Thanks for you comments. Without knowing the hard facts on the Long EZ nose over, I can only speculate that the pilot in the front sustained substantial injury due to a breakup of the forward fuselage. It is interesting to note that the surviving flight instructor whom was apparently in the...
  2. W

    Stall Spin Resistance, a call to action...

    Thanks for your thoughtful reply. Yes, the Verhees Delta is an interesting design but I prefer composites over aluminum construction. Though somewhat slow for cross county, as you suggest I have considered the Wittman Buttercup but after the mid air breakup, that design is in question. I'm...
  3. W

    Stall Spin Resistance, a call to action...

    Structural integrity as related to crash worthiness. Yes, I am aware that Rutan composite designs fare quite well in this regard, but, I think more is possible without a large weight penalty. Amazing walk away And a not so amazing off airport incident
  4. W

    Stall Spin Resistance, a call to action...

    Is that 60 mph at full gross or one pilot? That's not terrible but 50-55 would be better. Also, in order to reduce the chance of the nose digging in and tip over, I would also want retractable mains. Yes, more weight to counter a slower landing speed but I think much safer.
  5. W

    Stall Spin Resistance, a call to action...

    I've been looking at Long EZ/ Cozy with serious consideration but it would seem that their landing speed needs reduction in order to reduce probability of injury in case of off airport landings. I think some improvement can be made in materials and technique (use of kevlar and Innegra) in the...
  6. W

    Stall Spin Resistance, a call to action...

    Lot's of great comments for sure which I really appreciate, even comments from those who seem somewhat irritated at my starting post. Keep in mind that even commercial airline pilots and CFI's are dying in GA stall spin accidents. I'm not calling for aircraft design which mitigates the need for...
  7. W

    Stall Spin Resistance, a call to action...

    Anyone like me? That is, I frequently watch YouTube videos on light airplane crashes. The number of monthly stall spin accidents is astounding. I'm interested in an aircraft with extreme stall spin resistance like the popular canard designs but I don't see these as a solution when off airport...
  8. W

    Thoughts on Composite Strut Braced Wing...

    Yes, carbon fiber tensile and modulus vary considerably with grade. Talking about raw fibers.
  9. W

    Thoughts on Composite Strut Braced Wing...

    I wonder if the grades of carbon are apples to apples. Industrial grade carbon is not much better than S-glass. Would be interesting to know.
  10. W

    Thoughts on Composite Strut Braced Wing...

    Sounds like a good idea. Rutan Long EZ spar caps are not pre-tensioned. I really don't know the strength difference between pultruded carbon and reasonably straight hand laid carbon. Perhaps a composite engineer can provide some insight.
  11. W

    Thoughts on Composite Strut Braced Wing...

    In fact I think you are correct, that is, an automated process could result in perfectly straight fibers, prefect resin ratio and cure schedule, just pointing out work arounds.
  12. W

    Thoughts on Composite Strut Braced Wing...

    You mean insofar as pretension on the fibers? In the case of a wing spar, simply tack glue an extension block on the end of the trough intended to mold spar caps, use super glue to bond the tow onto the block. On the other end of the spar cap trough, provide an additional extension and super...
  13. W

    Thoughts on Composite Strut Braced Wing...

    Yes, I buy composite materials frequently. With careful searching one can often find decent prices on these materials. Epoxy prices? sucks yes, can't have everything. Why use prefabricated and expensive pultruded material in the first place when loose tow can accomplish allot? Foams are...
  14. W

    Thoughts on Composite Strut Braced Wing...

    I think the subject should be more along the lines of can we convert some conventional already proven designs into composite construction. Why composites? Mostly due to the high cost of conventional construction materials such as high grade spruce and plywood, 4130 seamless tubing and aircraft...
  15. W

    Thoughts on Composite Strut Braced Wing...

    Video showing early BD-4B fiberglass bucket over aluminum spar construction. Substitute round composite spar versus expensive, hard to source, hard to ship, corrosion prone aluminum spar. Round composite carry through spar could be built over foam core split vertically for shear web and with...
  16. W

    Thoughts on Composite Strut Braced Wing...

    Strut braced composite wing! A great idea! Considering all the ways in which to build an aircraft, composites improve design freedom, provide possibility for improved aerodynamic efficiency and the raw materials are easier and cheaper to ship which these days is a big deal. Consider the BD-4...
  17. W

    Wooden aircraft and crash safety

    I could post images of DF furring strips I've selected from home depot with grain much closer than aircraft grade spruce and grain slope that meets the criteria but there would be no point.
  18. W

    Wooden aircraft and crash safety

    Blanks intended for longerons and wing spars used to be aircraft "certified" Nobody wants to stick their neck out anymore. Yes, most lumber found in lumber yards is fast growth intended for general framing. I think I mentioned in an earlier post that Furring strips made from close grained...
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