Corrugated Aircraft ?
Discussion
Im' sure theres a simple answer ... but on a recent trip to Cosford, I was asked by shorty, why that plan (pointing to a Junkers tri prop thingy, in BA colours (i know i know) was made from corrugated tin ...
No answer on the placard .. so I guessed it was for strength vs Lightness ? Was I right ?
No answer on the placard .. so I guessed it was for strength vs Lightness ? Was I right ?
Except it isn't tin - it's duralumin ( a special hardened form of aluminium). Junkers first hit on the idea in World War 1 and were the first company to build all metal aircraft. They patented the idea and used it on a number of designs right up into the early 1930s. In the USA, the Stout aircraft company paid Junkers a licence so that they could build their airliner, the Trimotor, using the same construction method. Stout was eventually bought out by Ford and the Ford Trimotor went on to be one of the most successful early airliners.
By the mid 1930s, stressed skin semi-monocoque metal designs were being introduced and the corrugated method pioneered by Junkers fell out of favour.
By the mid 1930s, stressed skin semi-monocoque metal designs were being introduced and the corrugated method pioneered by Junkers fell out of favour.
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