Special Resources for the
Carbon Dragon
[Updated 9/19/2002]
GRAPHLITE
CARBON ROD - article by Jim Marske
Through much effort and research, Jim has successfully developed
the technology to place carbon rods in the spars of gliders
Marske
Flying Wings Produces pultruded carbon rods
under the product name, GRAPHLITE â
in a variety of diameters. Bell Helicopter and NASA have been involved
in developing the strength properties for this amazing material.
When building spars, one should use carbon
rods in place of carbon tows |
 |
NEPTCO Carbon Rods
... Marske has taken over this product
Previous Source ....
no longer available from this source
Box 2323, 30 Hamlet Street, Pautucket, RI 02861-0323 |
401-722-5500
fax: 401-722-6378 |
http://airplaneparachutes.com/
There is at least one Carbon Dragon using a BRS, ballistic recovery system
BRS Inc.
300 Airport Rd.
South St. Paul, MN 55075
Phone (651) 457-7491 ... FAX (651) 457-8651 ... Email:BRSchute@OUTaol.com
New information from Brian
Davis, Edmonton, Canada
Brian reports: I have found a great site for carbon fibre and
other hitech composite
materials. It is http://www.deltronix.com/public/acp/acp-cat.htm.
They have
lots of ideas there too. Another really good one for carbon fiber
is
http://www.grafil.com/
( includes a 48K Carbon Fiber Tow). I am currently thinking of replacing
all the plywood parts with some lightweight composite material.
I also want
to use PolyFiber coating instead of doped dacron.
Other Carbon distributors and manufacturers:
http://www.torayusa.com/cfa/
http://www.torayusa.com/cfa/products/fiber.htm
TORAY Carbon Fibers America, Inc produces TORAYCA® carbon fiber
using the PAN (polyacrylonitrile) process.
http://www.tm.wb.utwente.nl/~remko/links.htm
Links to carbon fiber by University of Twente, Netherlands,
Department of Mechanical Engineering
http://www.cape-composites.com/
Cape Composites is the lowest cost manufacturer of prepregs
and unidirectional tapes in the composite industry
Information
to obtain carbon seat pan!
Wicks Aircraft Supply
http://www.wicksaircraft.com/
1-800-221-9425 email:info@
Their catalog contained an extremely nice photo and parts list for
the CD ... haven't checked a recent catalog..
Aircraft
Kit Index ... complete lists of parts for scratch-built
aircraft, CD is listed, but no detail ... they state:.
CALL WICKS FOR KIT BREAKDOWNS
I have been in contact with most of the people and companies above.
They are all real nice folks. The support and products they provide
to builders is essential to the success of our hobby (compulsion?).
Please give them your attention and support as appropriate. Let them
know we appreciate their involvement. For
non-aviation oriented companies, you are building a sailing boat with a
mast that contains carbon tows, etc.
The Fibre
Glast Development Corp company has an outstanding catalog and set
of products for builders working in composites. They supported the
Eastern SHA workshop in 1997. I have bought a precision electronic
scale (0.1 oz or 0.1 gram) and a Personal Safety Kit. Get on their
mailing list. They have a very excellent newsletter with sale items
and chuck full of technical information.
1-800-821-3283 fax: 1-937-833-6555
95 Mosier Parkway, Brookville, OH 45309
50k Carbon Fiber Tows
A Carbon Dragon builder mentioned using 50k tows. But, typical
"pulls" of the carbon tows are two 12k tows for the entire length of the
wing, then two 12k tows up to the 12th rib, then ... well you get the idea.
There are a few areas where 50k could be used (wing root stubs), but probably
not a whole spool. I am told that another source is:
John's Shop 615-675-5335
10601 Bob Gray Road
Knoxville, TN 37932
John places an ad in Sailplane Builder every month for continuous strips
of sandpaper and latex gloves. His ad doesn't mention 50k, but I
am told he has 50k tows. I have bought sample kit from him with sandpaper,
latex and cotton gloves. The cotton gloves have been handy to
reduce sunburn while flying gliders. I loaned (gave) a pair to a
72 year old pilot during the Region 7 contest in 1996.
Carbon Dragon Plans
- Maupin, Ltd. is no longer providing plans ...
see their website.
Janice is the daughter of Jim. Jim's wife asked Janice to handle
the Carbon Dragon correspondence after Jim Maupin died. The family
graciously decided to continue to sell the plans for a number of years
after Jim's death. (Note: after the recent death of Volmer, it was
announced that his plans would be available only for a short period.)
We are very lucky that these plans were availble for a number of years.
An active builder community and the "Sailplane Builder" provides ongoing
support for builders of the glider.
I paid $150 for my set of plans ... #248
Blanton
Carbon Dragon Plywood Kits - Fred
has discontinued providing the plywood parts.
Ad seen in Sailplane Builder
Carbon Dragon Kits are now available. Send
a self addressed stamped business envelope for
more information to H F. Blanton, 4785 Esquivel
Rd, Vacaville, CA 95688
H. F. Blanton builds all the 1/4 inch mahogany plywood parts for the
Carbon Dragon. They are absolutely beautiful. Buying the wing
kit for $220 is a "no brainer". The wing has a double taper with
the rib design changing at each rib to provide the equivalent of wing-tip
washout ... so each rib is different in size and shape. A builder
that lives 60 miles from me (Mark Crist) has bought all of the kits ...
I have seen them. Each part is an accurately router cut. Fred
is a very nice guy ... give him a call.
Fred sells partial kits. So far, I bought the Rudder kit
for $75.
Sailplane
Homebuilders Association
Everyone in SSA, EAA and the rec.aviation.soaring Newsgroup should
join the Sailplane Homebuilders Association. They produce a heavy
bond cover newsletter that has many pages filled with articles by the "greats"
and photos which answer questions about construction details.
Check the above website for an application ... $30 for US First class
in 9 x 12 envelope! ...( this is the way to go).
Aircraft
Spruce & Specialty Company
Note: most orders are placed by phone which is (when you check their
website, you will see why!):
Phone: 1-877-4-SPRUCE | International: +909-372-9555 | Fax: +909-372-0555
http://www.aircraftspruce.com/
... this weblink doesn't seem to work, so try this:
http://www.aircraftspruce.com/catalog/
... then just click on the item of interest.
Web address of this page: http://www.cpinternet.com/sadkins/resource.htm
... Note: Changed 8/2002
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