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- May 4, 2009
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I'm about to start wing assembly on our Classic and having a time deciding on a plywood source. I've used some 1.5mm from Anderson International, foranother application, it was perfect.A fellow Hatz Classic builder Scott Plischke was kind enough to send me a sample of his Birch ply from ACSthat isaround 40 yrs. old and seems much stronger then Andersons. I ordered 2 new 1/2 sheets of 1.5mm Finnish Birch G-2 rated from ACS and they just arrived. Now I'm even more undecided as it seems stronger but has many knots and just not what I want to use for our leading edges.
I did build a mock-up of a leading edge section and used Andersons ply on it and it actually came out much stronger then I expected. The 1/16 Mahogany plywood I have from ACS seems even harder then their Birch for some reason and I really like howstrong Mahogany glue joints are as well.
Can you experienced builders / restorers give me your opinions on types and sources of aircraft plywood for the leading edges?
The Classic's leading edgeis designed to bein twosections vs one continoussection that would go all the way around the top and bottom of the leading edge, so steaming the plywood is not needed. The plywood sections join at a leading edge molding, much like the Stearman form all understand. I plan on doing gentle aerobatics in the Hatz but I think my main concern is having a strong leading edge for the usual ground handling issues and bird strikes.
Any input is greatly appreciated
I did build a mock-up of a leading edge section and used Andersons ply on it and it actually came out much stronger then I expected. The 1/16 Mahogany plywood I have from ACS seems even harder then their Birch for some reason and I really like howstrong Mahogany glue joints are as well.
Can you experienced builders / restorers give me your opinions on types and sources of aircraft plywood for the leading edges?
The Classic's leading edgeis designed to bein twosections vs one continoussection that would go all the way around the top and bottom of the leading edge, so steaming the plywood is not needed. The plywood sections join at a leading edge molding, much like the Stearman form all understand. I plan on doing gentle aerobatics in the Hatz but I think my main concern is having a strong leading edge for the usual ground handling issues and bird strikes.
Any input is greatly appreciated
