Canuck Bob
Well-Known Member
I have plans for the Spacewalker 1 and 2 and the Cvjetkovic CA-61. My question is structural I hope this is the right forum rather than the wood forum.
My shop will not accept the CA-61 wing length. It is a very well engineered wooden wing. It is often recommended to build the solid spar if possible due to the added weight of the root fittings.
Is there a weight savings to be realized if the spar was cut on its centreline and a single engineered root style fitting was used for the centre of the wing. This would be designed for shop space concerns and not for ease of removal of outer panels. I envision the airplane as being treated as a solid spar wing after final assembly. I could fit the wing if I could do that. The Spacewalker wings use a 6' centre section with outboard panels. But the CA-61 wing is elegant and designed for weight savings and robust structure. I understand Mr. Cvjetkovic was/is a very talented aerospace engineer trained when wood structures were still discussed. His early articles in the EAA magazines were the most comprehensive wood engineering articles I found.
My shop will not accept the CA-61 wing length. It is a very well engineered wooden wing. It is often recommended to build the solid spar if possible due to the added weight of the root fittings.
Is there a weight savings to be realized if the spar was cut on its centreline and a single engineered root style fitting was used for the centre of the wing. This would be designed for shop space concerns and not for ease of removal of outer panels. I envision the airplane as being treated as a solid spar wing after final assembly. I could fit the wing if I could do that. The Spacewalker wings use a 6' centre section with outboard panels. But the CA-61 wing is elegant and designed for weight savings and robust structure. I understand Mr. Cvjetkovic was/is a very talented aerospace engineer trained when wood structures were still discussed. His early articles in the EAA magazines were the most comprehensive wood engineering articles I found.