Avro Anson V Boeing Summary

The Avro Anson V has a molded plywood fuselage which was a key factor to its success in the Canadian climate. The fuselage of the plane was made of sheets of spruce and casein glue making it very lightweight compared to the metal alternatives. The fuselage was very aerodynamic and draft free which increased the vehicles performance. In order to manufacture a molded plywood fuselage three layers of spruce plywood strips are stacked and soaked with casein glue inside a concave mold. After the layers are completed a large rubber bladder is fastened to the top of the mold and inflated for a period of twenty-four hours. Once the bladder is removed one half shell is complete. Two shells can easily be joined together creating an extremely smooth fuselage for the aircraft.

The Boeing Vertol CH-113 Labrador is a versatile tandem rotor transport helicopter with Glass Fibre Reinforced Plastic (GFRP) rotor blades. These rotors are composed of a honeycomb core and a titanium spar both wrapped with GFRP, and a protective titanium erosion plate on the leading edge of the rotor blade. The honeycomb core and titanium spar are attached with glue and held firmly in place by the GFRP. To apply GFRP first the glass fibers are wrapped around the structure and then soaked in a plastic resin. Once the GFRP has

cured a forged titanium erosion plate is glued to the leading edge of the rotor to protect the GFRP from damage.

The McDonnell Douglas DC-9-32 is an American twin jet engine airliner that is equipped with bias-ply tires.

Bias ply tires are composed of multiple layers starting with nylon plies at 45 degree angles to the bead in order to form the carcass. Each of the nylon plies is covered with a rubber cushion along the wire bead in order to protect them from tearing while under tension. Enveloping the carcass of the tire is the tread and the sidewall both of which are made of rubber. The threads and sidewall of the tire are made by injecting rubber into a mold. Rubber is used because it is a very versatile material that can withstand the large amounts of friction involved in landing a

plane.

The De Havilland beaver is an extremely popular Canadian made bush plane often made with a wooden propeller. Wooden propellers start as a block of laminated maple wood with between 38-46 plies. A profile is then traced on to the top and side which is cutout by a band saw in order to achieve a rough shape. The blocks are then placed in a computer guided miller machine in order to create the curved of the airfoil and pitch sides of the blade. Finally the propeller is sanded, balanced and covered with a clear coat of enamel before being left to dry. Wood is a good choice of material for a propeller as it is very light and cheap when compared to their aluminum based counterparts.

The Cessna Crane was a lightweight trainer aircraft used during the Second World War, it features a steel tube fuselage and a wooden frame for its wings. The ribs and both spars of the aircraft wings were made out of wood. The skin covering them was a combination of lightweight wood and fabric. Once the ribs and spars are assembled the lightweight wood and cloth are stretched tightly over the surface and glued in place. A thin layer of paint is then used to improve aerodynamics and also to provide extra protection from moisture.