Fuselage recover

[EXPlanes]

If done properly the gluing of the fabric at the tail transition works well. The fabric of the vertical tail is glued to the top fuselage tubes and the radius transition between the tail and fuselage. The fuselage top blanket when installed is also glued to the same top tubes and overlapped to the tail fabric. The transition shown between my fingers in the pic sees reduced shear loading along with tension and compression due to the fabric glued around the tubes. Every application is different for this one it works and has been flown successfully for years.
I would never use this approach or recommend it over any unsupported wing covering or other unsupported fuselage covering. Tail fabric.jpg

[Scott]

Yes I understand. Overlap is supposed to be minimum 1" but I hear ya.

There is a big difference in the stability however. When there is structure under the joint, the joint is subject to shear only.

You may have seen the demo, or maybe done the test yourself... glue joints have very little stregth when exposed to even small non-shear forces. Like I said, nothing really sticks to polyester.

Anyway I know there's lots of aircraft flying around that way

My point is simply that for a relatively small additional effort any doubt is eliminated. And after all, there's a reason the practice is no longer published as acceptable by some/most stc's.

[Ragwing nut]

In the whole scheme of things... of all the time involved in a recover/restoration, and given the huge downside of a seem letting go on a finished aircraft, I simply can't imagine not taking the relatively short time to stitch the joint.

Then relax with the piece of mind you've enabled.

Nothing really sticks to polyester, we're basically relying on the mechanical grip of the weave. This is adaquate in shear, but when there's no structure the potential for other than shear forces increases.

S

You do realize that in the blanket method, the overlap on a longeron is generally around 1"-1/2". So the glue joint has 75% less contact than the required 4" overlap in open space. Most anytime you see a failure in a glue joint, it will be from improper installation. I've done it for 30 years and never seen a failure on any of my cover jobs.

[Scott]

In the whole scheme of things... of all the time involved in a recover/restoration, and given the huge downside of a seem letting go on a finished aircraft, I simply can't imagine not taking the relatively short time to stitch the joint.

Then relax with the piece of mind you've enabled.

Nothing really sticks to polyester, we're basically relying on the mechanical grip of the weave. This is adaquate in shear, but when there's no structure the potential for other than shear forces increases.

S

[Ragwing nut]

I'd like to see where it approves that in the manual....

It is allowed in the Airtech manual, which is what I use mostly.

[EXPlanes]

Couple more pics. Make sure you pull the fabric slightly tighter by the tail transition so when you final shrink it comes out tighter. If you shrink evenly on both sides of the vertical tail it will come out straight. cover fuselage 823.jpg fusalage cover.jpg fusalage cub yellow.jpg fusalage final paint 2.jpg

[EXPlanes]

Here are a few pics that may be interesting. Up here on Champs and Tcraft we overlap and glue the tail to fuselage transition. No AI rejections that I know of. I agree on the blanket vs the sock approach. Better results. cover fuselage 4.jpg cover fuselage 2.jpg tail level n square 2023.jpg

[N96337]

I'd like to see where it approves that in the manual....

[Ragwing nut]

Legal over an open span?

yes, 4" overlap. Others used to but removed it.

[N96337]

Airtech allows glue seams

Legal over an open span?

[Ragwing nut]

If you use the blanket method, you'll wind up having to sew the seam at the tail transition with any of the systems except Stewart. Years ago, I had a couple envelopes made for Polyfiber system without the bottom in them. That worked out pretty well.
John

Airtech allows glue seams

[N96337]

If you use the blanket method, you'll wind up having to sew the seam at the tail transition with any of the systems except Stewart. Years ago, I had a couple envelopes made for Polyfiber system without the bottom in them. That worked out pretty well.
John

[Jim Herpst]

glue to the longerons. don't use a sock

Yes I have heard and seen the same thing in results. I have though in the last few years heard the Preferred Airparts in Ohio has some good socks..They have Mennonite women doing the sewing to a tighter tolerance...That said I just in the past 6 months used the blanket method LOL

[waltermrich]

That is great, Thank you Rob !

[Robert Lees]

https://www.taylorcraft.org.uk/Brey_rebuild-Fuselage-fabric.htm#Exterior%20fabric