Materials can be used
Posted: March 4th, 2018, 11:16 am
Is there a limit on types of materials that can be used?
Do we have to use balsa wood?
Do we have to use balsa wood?
Check the rules, the only material mentioned is boron which you CAN'T use. Pretty much leaves it open to every other material.
However, while you don't HAVE to use balsa, there is a very good reason almost everyone uses it for the bulk of the plane. Balsa is a TRULY magic material. Huge range of properties, but across most of that range, its hard to beat for stiffness and strength vs weight. Especially for the cost. Weight is critical in these planes.
Carbon fiber extrusions have come down in cost and availability to the point where they can compete with balsa for selected parts of the plane, but not everywhere.
And of course you will need to use some sort of glue, possibly plastic or high strength tissue paper. And steel wire for motor hooks and propeller hooks. Possibly tungsten wire or kevlar fiber for selective stiffening.
Jeff Anderson
Livonia, MI