All, Thanks for the responses, (a couple went to my email but not to the list)
"Harry L. Francis" <harrylfran...@...> wrote: > > Roberto, > > WHY ?? Good question. My starting point was "Metal is better than fabric for airplanes parked outside" (Hangar space is expensive around here) Better as in, lasts longer, needs less maintenance, etc. >From the few answers I received plus some additional reading I am beginning to >change direction. > The new fabrics are superior to the ,020 thickness metal . I looked into this > 20 years ago, and discovered that the light metal is easily ruined by hail > storms, whle the new fabrics survive them without damage. > > The metal wings increase the empty weight by about 35 pounds, lowering the > useful load...already at low limits for the Ercoupe... > > Metal wings are noiser, as one taxie along.. > > Metal wings are more difficult to inspect...with cloth, it is easier and less > costly to recover every ten years or so, to fully inspect the ineterior > structure. > > Metal wings generally are more suseptable to corrosion, due to condensation > occuring inside the wings with temperature changes. > > I do not know the costs involved, but there are several STC s for metalizing > the wings. When Cotton was the only available fabric, I could understand the > desire to use metals....But , for me, No Longer. > > Fly Safe - Have Fun > > Harry Francis > N93530 > since 1982...
