Composite Gliders

[JYZoom]

Hi,

When we say composite gliders, is the wing still make of balsa ? Have been checking out soaring composite and other gliders on hobbyking, but getting confuse the materials use on these composite gliders.

E.g. Soaring composite - E-Wasp and Eagle 5.... is the wing Balsa ?

Thanks in advance for response to newbie question.

Jonathan

[Hawkeye]

In a sense composites are actually made by making a sandwich of different materials.

Eg: wings can be made of a sandwich of foam, balsa,fiberglass. Each material has its unique mechanical properties and when combine together gives and overal structure that has all the properties needed in a wing. You want the wing stiff, yet resilient when you need it to be.

Try this. If you take a thin sheet of fiberglass and coat it with epoxy and let it cure. After curing it will still bend. only after multiple layers of fiberglass will eventually the plate will be strong...stiff but heavy.

Now take 2 thin sheets of fibreglass and sandwich a thin balsa between them. Apply epoxy on both sides and let it cure. Put a heavy book on top of it while it cures. Once cured, you get a surprisingly strong structure that is light weight. For the same thickness as trying multiple layers of glass.

Typical composite materials

Your bread..
Carbon fibre
Glass
Kevlar

Your sandwich filling
Balsa
Rohacell
Herex

All these comes with different thickness And weights so it all depends on the designers goals on strength and weight of the complete plane that determines the mix of materials.

[JYZoom]

Hawkeye, thank you for your education. appreciate it.

[porksoda]

???

[Hawkeye]

If you want to see a nice diagram of what I'm talking about, go here

http://f3j.in.ua/en/supra-pro-family.html#tab7

[JYZoom]

Hawkeye,

this is great information ... thank you. ANy idea what is the material on wing for E-Wasp from soaring composite ?


porksoda,
The reason I asked is I miss understood that composite refer to all wings and fuselage is all fiberglass or carbon...then I saw some picture of crash compsite and seems to see balsa breaking....

Jonathan

[pixeldixel]

Your bread..
Carbon fibre
Glass
Kevlar

Your sandwich filling
Balsa
Rohacell
Herex

That sure sounds yummy.

[rt9]

Hawkeye,

this is great information ... thank you. ANy idea what is the material on wing for E-Wasp from soaring composite ?


porksoda,
The reason I asked is I miss understood that composite refer to all wings and fuselage is all fiberglass or carbon...then I saw some picture of crash compsite and seems to see balsa breaking....

Jonathan

Crashed composite? Aiyo..

@Jonathan, you getting one soon?

[xuen7]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I_atJwXxcrU

The joy of education!

[Pang]

this is great information ... thank you. ANy idea what is the material on wing for E-Wasp from soaring composite ?


Jonathan

Hi Jonathan,

The wing for E-wasp and Eagle 5 is made up of glass-balsa-glass with carbon reinforcement along the wing spar.

[JYZoom]

Hi Jonathan,

The wing for E-wasp and Eagle 5 is made up of glass-balsa-glass with carbon reinforcement along the wing spar.

Thanks Pang... good to hear from you.

[porksoda]

Hawkeye,

this is great information ... thank you. ANy idea what is the material on wing for E-Wasp from soaring composite ?


porksoda,
The reason I asked is I miss understood that composite refer to all wings and fuselage is all fiberglass or carbon...then I saw some picture of crash compsite and seems to see balsa breaking....

Jonathan

Was thinking abt buying that too, waitin for the answer but it never came. Hawkeye seems drifted a little.

[Hawkeye]

As to which materials, Pang is in a better position to answer that question which he did.

[JYZoom]

Any one got a spare to let go ?

Now need ot get one for the long weekend..

[JYZoom]

Hi Jonathan,

The wing for E-wasp and Eagle 5 is made up of glass-balsa-glass with carbon reinforcement along the wing spar.

Pang,
Is E-Typhoon make of the same material ?

Jonathan