electricsub
Member
Hi, Has anyone constructed a airfraft for solid wood, fusealage either turned or carved, with wings etc carved?
Solid Wood Contructed Aircraft
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profchris
Established Member
I'm guessing you mean model aircraft 
I've flown wooden aircraft as the pilot, and a turned fuselage would definitely stop me climbing aboard (not strong enough for flight forces), even if it could be made light enough to actually fly!
I've flown wooden aircraft as the pilot, and a turned fuselage would definitely stop me climbing aboard (not strong enough for flight forces), even if it could be made light enough to actually fly!
AES
Established Member
I too assume you mean MODEL aircraft - like the last poster, I can't see that such a full-size aeroplane would be strong enough or light enough to fly successfully - or at the very best, not with enough payload of any sort to make it a practical proposition.
But if you mean model aircraft, then Yes, there are many examples: 1. Before about the early 1950's (I think) and the advent of plastic kits, aircraft models were made from solid wood, both from balsa, and "ordinary" solid wood. They were primarily for display only, and especially during WWII, for learning to recognise different aircraft types. I myself made one or two (from balsa) but it was MANY years ago. 2. They're still made today, from both solid wood (and from cast plastic and metal), mainly for display purposes, e.g. travel agents windows, aircraft manufacturers, desk top displays, collectors, etc. There are companies who specialise in such work (ship models too). And 3. As already shown above, like the nice model helo and floatplane, mainly from solid wood, as children's toys. 4. Nearest to actually "flying", the specialist models made for aerodynamics research in wind tunnels (though a lot of that is done with computer "virtual" models rather "real" models these days.
But in none of the above cases are they intended to be models that will fly (much too heavy, and usually, the balance point ("CofG") completely in the wrong place) - unless I s'pose someone threw one out of the window in a paddy.
But if you mean model aircraft, then Yes, there are many examples: 1. Before about the early 1950's (I think) and the advent of plastic kits, aircraft models were made from solid wood, both from balsa, and "ordinary" solid wood. They were primarily for display only, and especially during WWII, for learning to recognise different aircraft types. I myself made one or two (from balsa) but it was MANY years ago. 2. They're still made today, from both solid wood (and from cast plastic and metal), mainly for display purposes, e.g. travel agents windows, aircraft manufacturers, desk top displays, collectors, etc. There are companies who specialise in such work (ship models too). And 3. As already shown above, like the nice model helo and floatplane, mainly from solid wood, as children's toys. 4. Nearest to actually "flying", the specialist models made for aerodynamics research in wind tunnels (though a lot of that is done with computer "virtual" models rather "real" models these days.
But in none of the above cases are they intended to be models that will fly (much too heavy, and usually, the balance point ("CofG") completely in the wrong place) - unless I s'pose someone threw one out of the window in a paddy.
Not solid wood but the famous twin engine mosquito had a timber frame....
and I've made a very simple solid balsa model aircraft witha "jetex" solid fuel jet engine. It was about 18" wingspan, 2 diheral angle wings with solid balsa sanded to create the airfoil section.
It flew OK
and I've made a very simple solid balsa model aircraft witha "jetex" solid fuel jet engine. It was about 18" wingspan, 2 diheral angle wings with solid balsa sanded to create the airfoil section.
It flew OK
electricsub
Member
Thank you everyone who replied. I should have added Scale Model to my subject
profchris
Established Member
Sideways":2lrd2097 said:Not solid wood but the famous twin engine mosquito had a timber frame....
and I've made a very simple solid balsa model aircraft witha "jetex" solid fuel jet engine. It was about 18" wingspan, 2 diheral angle wings with solid balsa sanded to create the airfoil section.
It flew OK
Wood is a great material for aircraft - stiff and light if you choose the right species. But you do need the aircraft to be mainly full of air, including the wings. Sadly, because wood moves over time the airfoil section distorts, so you can't produce high efficiency wings - the gliders I fly are now almost all composite.
The problem is the glue - quite a few Mosquitos went to Burma and then fell apart as the glue deteriorated. Aerolite was developed to solve this problem, but even then poor glue joint technique can require costly repairs some years later. And of course, these joints are all hidden (gulp!).
