Mike, the new guy, question about all-aluminum wings

[Golden Eagle]

Hi everyone,

  I just sent off my money to buy Leonard’s XL package today.  I’ve been doing a lot of research and I’m curious if anyone has heard of, or considered, building all aluminum wings.  My thinking is to make standard style “C” style aluminum forward and rear spars, similar to those found on Bearhawks or Zeniths, (only no where near as heavy).

I’m only considering the inner structures made of aluminum, not the skins.  They’d be Poly Fiber products.

Mike

[Dan_]

Here is the way Ed Fisher does it...  


This wing design is used on the Micro Mong below, as well as Skylite, LiL Bitts and Zipster.

The Flit plane has tubular spars but I am fairly sure it uses aluminum tube ribs.  


You bend the angles up out of sheet stock and bend the curve with your home made fluting pliers.  The spar attachment "widgets" are a purchased item but can be builder made.

Eds' first design was a Tailwind-esque steel tube frame and wood wing single seater called Zippy Sport circa 1982.  Some were VW powered.

[Golden Eagle]

Dan,

  That looks like a very good alternative design to think about.  Different from what I was thinking, but obvious it works.  Later, I’ll do some preliminary calculations and estimate what an Eagle wing would weigh.

  Does anyone know anyone that has ectually “built” and flown an aluminum structure wing?  (NOT including that guy that used Kolb wings.  That doesn’t count, although I did build my Kolb wings on my MkIII Xtra shown in my first post.

Thanks Dan,
Mike Welch