DR-1 (Sands): Builders Group - Page 61

Rex · 6 June 2005, 06:32 AM

Here is a copy of an article about the characteristics of wood from the May, 1954 issue of EAA's Sport Aviation. Maybe this will help you decide what type of wood to use for the different areas of your plane vs cost.

Woods Used In Aircraft Construction

The woods listed below are those used for structural purposes. For interior trim any of the "decorative" woods, such as walnut, birds-eye maple, etc., may be used, but strength is usually of no consequence under such conditions.

ASH — Commercial White. A strong, white, flexible, coarse grained wood. Used for wing tip bow, blocking, float or hull members and any bent members.

LASSWOOD — White, soft for a "hardwood", easily worked. Used chiefly as core of plywood which has hardwood faces, sometimes for blockings, seldom
as a structural member.

BIRCH — Yellow - white, hard, strong, does not split easily. Used widely for plywood and to some extent for blocking where bolts pierce a beam, etc.

CEDAR — Port Orford. White, straight grained, easily worked, very stiff and strong. Used sometimes for wing beams and compression members, for hull
and float members.

DOUGLAS FIR — Yellow-white, very similar to spruce and often used in place of it, especially for ribs and small members.

MAHOGANY — Brown, coarse grained, soft for a "hardwood". Used chiefly for plywood and for inside trim.

MAPLE — Satiny yellow, very hard. Used for bearing blocks, such as is beams where bolts pierce them.

PINE — Western white or Oregon. Very similar to spruce and used for same purpose.

SPRUCE — Yellow - white, straight grained and satiny, if good quality. Used in preference to all other woods for wing beams and other structural
members.

Jim Bruton · 7 June 2005, 10:08 AM

Thanks Rex! Maybe this will help some of our colleagues who don't have Spruce readily available!

Fokker Pilot · 12 June 2005, 05:11 PM

Hello List

I just registered and wanted to introduce myself. I live in central CT and have joined the ranks of Ron Sands Triplane builders. I bought a set of plans fron Ron SR last year and plan to follow through and build a triplane. Shortly before he passed away, I bought perhaps the last triplane fuselage that he made. My wife and I just brought it home last weekend.
I have worked as an aircraft parts inspector for 28 years, have a degree in Engineering and am a licensed A and P mechanic. Started flying lessons and I am near the end with about 70 hours in the logbook. Looking forward to hearing from all of you and of course building the plane.
Warren Stevens

Jim Bruton · 12 June 2005, 06:00 PM

OK Warren,

we have to meet! I live in Middlebury and Fritz (ED) lives in Avon, so when will this happen? We have an offer to house our planes at Waterbury Airport (N41) on a grass strip- the owner will build us a hangar. Send me your phone number to geonav1@earthlink.net !

WELCOME!

Jim Bruton

watpho · 13 June 2005, 04:56 PM

Hello fellow Dr.I enthusiasts! I've been reading your posts and am very excited to be here, albeit a little late it seems. I'm a pilot by profession, but don't hold that against me. I've been bitten by the Dr.I bug and am very glad I'm not starting this alone.

I'd like to build a Sands replica Dr. I of my own, but the email on his website no longer works. I know he's passed, but his son seemed to want to continue to sell the plans.

Anyone know anywhere I can get Sands' Dr. I plans now?

Thanks,
Bryan Elliott
Spring, TX

Jim Bruton · 13 June 2005, 06:35 PM

Hi Bryan,

I'll send you the email address tomorrow! Welcome!

Jim Bruton
CT

Fokker210 · 20 June 2005, 04:21 PM

Hi Guys !
Nothing much to report here - just about through with the spar flange "ladders" and will be ready to apply the inner and outer webs soon.
Would post some photos but, at the moment, they would look just like my previously posted pics !

Been quiet around here for a while.......

Anyone making progress ?

Jim Bruton · 20 June 2005, 05:32 PM

hi everyone! just about a year ago today i joined this website. how time flies. Fritz and I met up with a new friend here in CT who has a Sands fuselage and is roarin' to go. Fritz's and my spar stock is on back order at Wicks (sound familiar?) but everything should ship soon- i'll send you a photo, even if it is just a pile of tubes and wood! we're getting creative here and the summer promises to crank up into a decentralized Fokker Factory in Connecticut, that's for sure. I am not sure yet I will make it to Dayton, but next year I might actually have something to show!

Of those who have gotten or are considering the M-14D, who is going to carve your prop? St. Croix? That Rotec 150hp is looking good- Jim from Rotec has been sending pictures and progress reports- can't wait for a sound clip!

Do a Touch & Go here and let us know how everyone is doing!

Jim

worldcrusier · 30 June 2005, 06:33 AM

I've been in and out of town a lot so progress is affected greatly. Hope to get more done this weekend cause I'm leaving for Philly on Tues. I think that St. Croix has already done a prop for the M14D. Thinking about carving my own, have a couple of locals who have prop carving knowledge.

Reed

Jim Bruton · 15 July 2005, 06:04 AM

Hi Everyone,

OK, i am moved into my new home here in Middlebury, CT and Ed (Fritz) and I received from Wicks yesterday our spar stock, I received the huge tubing module and Ed received his plywood order. I think there are some extra bits and pieces in there too... including epoxy! He brought all of the wood over and man, was it heavy! We wrestled it into my basement workshop and I'll uncrate it this evening and sort it out over the weekend.

I don't know if anyone else has had this experience, but the tubing crate was approximately 25 feet long!!

I'll send some new pics soon, just need to make the shop a bit more...photogenic. How is everyone else doing on their projects?

Jim