Previous Reply to Ian P.
It is sitting on trestles in
the AUGC workshop at Westbeach with most of its fabric off. There is a desire in
the club to repair it, and I will help if that happens, but I think there is a
bit of procrastination to do with an insurance claim. Anyway, I propose to knock
up a couple of dollies in the next few weeks so we can work on it trailing edge
up.
I have used bleach on the
mould in some places, but it doesn't seem to have had any more effect than just
drying out normally would have.
__________________________________________________
Further info for them what's interested (and a hard
lesson learnt).
Sadly, Arrow GNF (serial No 61 from memory, the
earliest Arrow still on the register) got into trouble about a month
ago.
Simply, the wing was left upside down in a not so water proof hangar at Stonefield and we had a
fair bit of rain in the previous
month or so in SA. Because the wing was up
side down, the drain holes became filling holes! When it was discovered, as much water as possible (lots) was drained out and some fabric opened up on the spot. It was then bought back to Adelaide and more of it
has been opened up including some
sealed compartments associated with
the airbrake box. Virtually all the
fabric is off it now and near its worst water damaged point I bored a 30mm
inspection hole in the D nose.
The stbd wing has some mould and plenty of glue joint failures near the
inboard end of the aileron. TE in the area
must be replaced. Bad, but repairable I think.
The
port wing is very badly affected. From the root rib to the airbrake box, all the
built up ribs were knackered by the
water. There was significant mould on
the spar rear web along this entire area and the airbrake housing box (which I
drained half a beer bottle of water out, four days
after the rest of the wing was drained) was also full of mould and water, although the
water has gone, now the box is open. The web must be replaced and this will
take major deconstruction of the wing.
but the worst
is:
The
wing was lying upside down and water must have lain against the spar web for
some time. The joint between the top of the spar and the D nose ply where it attaches to the top of the
spar appears to have opened up (maybe it isn't, maybe it is a "normal" gap left
over after manufacture. But I dont think so). This is more obvious with a
photo.
Both the port and starboard wings show this gap. If it is what I believe
it is, the water has probably got into the joint at the top of the spar between
the spar and the D nose ply. Although now we have
had a look in the D nose it appears OK, but some question will remain until we
can separate the ply from the top of the spar (which requires taking all the
ribs off, but we had to rebuild them
anyway!)
SO
a very
big job to repair and maybe even a write off. Simply caused by people not really
thinking about the chance of rain (at Stonefield, it never rains there!) and
leaving the wing in such a way that any water pooling on it would go straight
into the wing and not be able to get out.
Old
wooden aeroplanes can take a bit of a drenching, but they won't survive if
the water can't get out!
Regards
SWK
Gee I miss John
already!
From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] On Behalf Of Emilis Prelgauskas
Sent: Wednesday, 17 August 2005 6:28 PM
To: Discussion of issues relating to Soaring in Australia.
Subject: Re: [Aus-soaring] ArrowOn Wed, 17 Aug 2005 13:54:18 +1000, Patching wrote:>Stephen,>How is that Arrow?>Ian P.Public reply requested,as some of us have a paternal as well as history interest in the answer.(As of today midday John Roake should nor be receiving the Aus-soaring list and thus not need to reply)
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