AirTalk.org Aviation discussions newsgroups   Archives   FAQ   Search   Memberlist   Usergroups   Register   Profile   Log in to check your private messages   Log in  P39 elevator & aileron construction?          AirTalk.org Forum Index -> Aviation (Miscellaneous Topics) View previous topic :: View next topic   Author Message Chris Wells Guest Posted: Mon Jan 01, 2007 8:34 pm    Post subject: P39 elevator & aileron construction? I recently visited the Niagara Aerospace Museum (thumbs up!) and got the opportunity to see a P39 Airacobra close-up...and I noticed that the elevator and ailerons (& possibly the rudder as well) were fabric-covered, instead of aluminum like the rest of the plane. Is this the way they were built? -- Chris Wells Back to top David Lesher Guest Posted: Mon Jan 01, 2007 8:53 pm    Post subject: Re: P39 elevator & aileron construction? Orval Fairbairn <orfairbairn (AT) earthlink (DOT) net> writes: Quote: I recently visited the Niagara Aerospace Museum (thumbs up!) and got the opportunity to see a P39 Airacobra close-up...and I noticed that the elevator and ailerons (& possibly the rudder as well) were fabric-covered, instead of aluminum like the rest of the plane. Is this the way they were built? Yup. The P-51 also had a fabric-covered rudder; early-model Corsairs had a fair amount of fabric on the wings, too. Interesting. I seem to recall reading in Douglas Bader's book how they jumped the queue to get the more effective aluminum rudder/ailerons on their aircraft by flying to the factory for the instalation. A year+ later, the bill arrived and he suggested past squadron leaders as the ones to ask; one was dead, another a POW, etc.. -- A host is a host from coast to coast.................wb8foz (AT) nrk (DOT) com & no one will talk to a host that's close........[v].(301) 56-LINUX Unless the host (that isn't close).........................pob 1433 is busy, hung or dead....................................20915-1433 Back to top Steven P. McNicoll Guest Posted: Mon Jan 01, 2007 10:18 pm    Post subject: Re: P39 elevator & aileron construction? "Chris Wells" <Chris.Wells.2jqosb (AT) news (DOT) aviationbanter.com> wrote in message news:Chris.Wells.2jqosb (AT) news (DOT) aviationbanter.com... Quote: I recently visited the Niagara Aerospace Museum (thumbs up!) and got the opportunity to see a P39 Airacobra close-up...and I noticed that the elevator and ailerons (& possibly the rudder as well) were fabric-covered, instead of aluminum like the rest of the plane. Is this the way they were built? Yes. Back to top Orval Fairbairn Guest Posted: Mon Jan 01, 2007 10:48 pm    Post subject: Re: P39 elevator & aileron construction? In article <Chris.Wells.2jqosb (AT) news (DOT) aviationbanter.com>, Chris Wells <Chris.Wells.2jqosb (AT) news (DOT) aviationbanter.com> wrote: Quote: I recently visited the Niagara Aerospace Museum (thumbs up!) and got the opportunity to see a P39 Airacobra close-up...and I noticed that the elevator and ailerons (& possibly the rudder as well) were fabric-covered, instead of aluminum like the rest of the plane. Is this the way they were built? Yup. The P-51 also had a fabric-covered rudder; early-model Corsairs had a fair amount of fabric on the wings, too. Back to top Terry Guest Posted: Mon Jan 01, 2007 11:27 pm    Post subject: Re: P39 elevator & aileron construction? Yes... and quite a few bombers as well... B-17 comes to mind... Terry "Chris Wells" <Chris.Wells.2jqosb (AT) news (DOT) aviationbanter.com> wrote in message news:Chris.Wells.2jqosb (AT) news (DOT) aviationbanter.com... Quote: I recently visited the Niagara Aerospace Museum (thumbs up!) and got the opportunity to see a P39 Airacobra close-up...and I noticed that the elevator and ailerons (& possibly the rudder as well) were fabric-covered, instead of aluminum like the rest of the plane. Is this the way they were built? -- Chris Wells Back to top Juan Jimenez Guest Posted: Fri Jan 19, 2007 9:14 pm    Post subject: Re: P39 elevator & aileron construction? And the DC-3. "Terry" <tlhnohio (AT) ix (DOT) netcom.com> wrote in message news:Pvbmh.6162$yx6.2343 (AT) newsread2 (DOT) news.pas.earthlink.net... Quote: Yes... and quite a few bombers as well... B-17 comes to mind... Terry "Chris Wells" <Chris.Wells.2jqosb (AT) news (DOT) aviationbanter.com> wrote in message news:Chris.Wells.2jqosb (AT) news (DOT) aviationbanter.com... I recently visited the Niagara Aerospace Museum (thumbs up!) and got the opportunity to see a P39 Airacobra close-up...and I noticed that the elevator and ailerons (& possibly the rudder as well) were fabric-covered, instead of aluminum like the rest of the plane. Is this the way they were built? -- Chris Wells -- Posted via a free Usenet account from http://www.teranews.com Back to top John Szalay Guest Posted: Fri Jan 19, 2007 9:48 pm    Post subject: Re: P39 elevator & aileron construction? "Juan Jimenez" <flybd5 (AT) prtc (DOT) net> wrote in news:45b0d4bb$0$4801$88260bb3 (AT) free (DOT) teranews.com: Quote: And the DC-3. "Terry" <tlhnohio (AT) ix (DOT) netcom.com> wrote in message news:Pvbmh.6162$yx6.2343 (AT) newsread2 (DOT) news.pas.earthlink.net... Yes... and quite a few bombers as well... B-17 comes to mind... Terry "Chris Wells" <Chris.Wells.2jqosb (AT) news (DOT) aviationbanter.com> wrote in message news:Chris.Wells.2jqosb (AT) news (DOT) aviationbanter.com... I recently visited the Niagara Aerospace Museum (thumbs up!) and got the opportunity to see a P39 Airacobra close-up...and I noticed that the elevator and ailerons (& possibly the rudder as well) were fabric-covered, instead of aluminum like the rest of the plane. Is this the way they were built? Chris Wells Yep, my aunt sewed fabric for the planes coming out of the Grumman plant in NY during WWII. Back to top Ron Hardin Guest Posted: Sat Jan 20, 2007 12:07 am    Post subject: Re: P39 elevator & aileron construction? I think they used fabric to eliminate control surface flutter, the aft-of-hinge mass being less. I wonder what they used for dope. Nitrate was common but very flammable, maybe not great on a warplane. I don't think butyrite was around yet. -- Ron Hardin rhhardin (AT) mindspring (DOT) com On the internet, nobody knows you're a jerk. Back to top Michael Guest Posted: Sat Jan 20, 2007 12:43 am    Post subject: Re: P39 elevator & aileron construction? Ron Hardin wrote: Quote: I think they used fabric to eliminate control surface flutter, the aft-of-hinge mass being less. Delay the onset of flutter, to be pedantic about it. Lacking a solid unerstanding and good computer models, they just made the control surfaces as light as possible and hoped for the best. Michael Back to top Orval Fairbairn Guest Posted: Sat Jan 20, 2007 1:32 am    Post subject: Re: P39 elevator & aileron construction? In article <45B108EB.4A09 (AT) mindspring (DOT) com>, Ron Hardin <rhhardin (AT) mindspring (DOT) com> wrote: Quote: I think they used fabric to eliminate control surface flutter, the aft-of-hinge mass being less. I wonder what they used for dope. Nitrate was common but very flammable, maybe not great on a warplane. I don't think butyrite was around yet. Yes -- they used nitrate dope -- just like the Hindenburg! Acetate dope came in after the war; butyrate a little later, then cellulose acetate butyrate (CAB). CAB was the standard until Stits, etc. came up with their products, but on Dacron, they still used nitrate dope to get adhesion to the fabric. Back to top Display posts from previous: All Posts1 Day7 Days2 Weeks1 Month3 Months6 Months1 Year Oldest FirstNewest First         AirTalk.org Forum Index -> Aviation (Miscellaneous Topics) All times are GMT Page 1 of 1   Jump to: Select a forum Aviation----------------alt.aviationAviation safety EnhancementPlanes, gliders and flying in AustraliaAviation et pilotage (Français)rec.aviationAviation (Aerobatics)Hot air, gas balloons and airshipsHang-gliding, paragliding, foot-launched flightAircraft Design & BuildingInstrument Flight RulesAviation (Classifieds)Military AircraftNaval AviationAviation (Miscellaneous Topics)Owning AirplanesAviators (General Discussions)Aviation related productsAircraft RestorationHelicopters and rotary wing aircraftsFlight SimulationSailplanesAviation (Students)Light aircraftFlying related activities in the UK Airports----------------alt.airportsEdinburgh Airport Glasgow Airport Humberside Airport Luton Airport Aberdeen Airport Glasgow Prestwick Airport  You cannot post new topics in this forum You cannot reply to topics in this forum You cannot edit your posts in this forum You cannot delete your posts in this forum You cannot vote in polls in this forum Powered by phpBB © 2001, 2006 phpBB Group SEO toolkit © 2004-2006 webmedic.