Dear Graham
Dave Simpson wrote a very good explanatiopn as to how designing the
Europa to +3.8G, -1.9G required us to test to 8.55G. Yes the Europa wing
and fuselage were load tested to 8.55G, twice in fact. It is quite
alarming to witness, as you may imagine.
Kind Regards
Andy Draper
Technical Manager
>>> Graham Singleton <grasingleton=40avnet.co.uk> 01/25/00 12:44am >>>
>Now the Europa Aircraft website lists the limit load
>rating as:
>
> Europa XS +3.8G -1.9G
>
>This would then place it in the "Normal" category and not
>even allow steep turns. Am I missing something?
The problem is the regulations. Because it is a composite airplane load
factors are more than doubled over that required for a tin and rivets
job.
The Europa wing and center fuselage has demonstrated 8.5 G I understand,
Andy please correct me.
The reason for the conservative figures is the possibility of a real
hot
day. Composites lose strength quicker than metal at elevated temperatures.
65 degrees C and above would be hot.
It is also worth noting that extreme cold makes some plastics brittle.
Gliders have been damaged after cold soak at extreme altitude.
Graham
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