WIX Archives

Re: Corsair mainspar

Posted by Rob Mears on Tue Jul 30, 2002 05:42:46 AM

In reply top Corsair mainspar posted by Cees on Tue Jul 30, 2002 04:21:53 AM

From what I understand, the size of the commonly available aluminum stock needed to create the spars is not cut large enough to equal the pieces used in the original design. Custom forgings are required to make this work.

Secondly,from what I unsderstand those pieces then have to be rolled into shape to create the inverted-gull shape of the spar. The factory responsible for the original production pieces had mammoth custom tooling to complete this job, the likes of which is not still extant AFAIK. To the best of my knowlege these are the two main hurdles one has to overcome.

Tom Reiley of course reproduced a main spar for the Silberman "F4U-4" (now owned by Jim Frye). Mr. Reiley actually deviated from the original design, managing to reproduce an airworthy mainspar using different techniques that were approved by the FAA. I spoke with him just after his completion of the unit, but I don't really recall the minute details in his description of the work.

Nice to know that it can be done though :) I can think of two or three F4U projects right now that could use a spar to get them kick started.

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