curtisscholl
Gold Supporter
Hi Folks:
I was at the Mentone, Indiana meet in early August and I walked through the museum for a bit, and went back a couple more times. Each time I found a few more interesting tidbits. Glenn, if you are on this board, thank you for the talk we had.
There were Bensen B7 and B8 models of different configurations, some with the plywood blades and others with the metal blades. There were others to be sure, like the Air and Space 18. I also found in the northeast corner parts for a plywood blade laid out on a bench. This was so informative.
What is curious to me is the actual makeup of a Bensen aluminum blade. Chuck has mentioned items of interest about both types. But I have a few questions about how Igor designed the aluminum versions.
The aluminum blade is composed of an aluminum spar that has been milled for the leading edge of the airfoil and to a certain depth of the chord of the blade, the rest aft of that point was aluminum sheet. The one I paid attention to most had rounded rivet heads in a neat line down the blade at the intersection of the sheet metal and the solid spar.
1. Were there two versions of the coupling of the sheet metal to the spar? Round head vs. Flush rivets?
2. Did the rivets go all the way through the milled spar to couple the sheet metal to the spar?
3. Was 6061-T6 aluminum used as the material for the blade spar?
Back in the late 80's I read that Ken Brock used a similar spar, but a different method of applying the skins.
4. Did Ken Brock use bonding rather than rivets and did I remember correctly that he used a wrap around skin?
Chuck also mentioned that the sheet metal was in sections on the Igor Bensen blade, but I did not pay attention well enough to actually see what he meant, but I get what he said that it acted as an air pump.
Thanks in advance..
Curtis Scholl
I was at the Mentone, Indiana meet in early August and I walked through the museum for a bit, and went back a couple more times. Each time I found a few more interesting tidbits. Glenn, if you are on this board, thank you for the talk we had.
There were Bensen B7 and B8 models of different configurations, some with the plywood blades and others with the metal blades. There were others to be sure, like the Air and Space 18. I also found in the northeast corner parts for a plywood blade laid out on a bench. This was so informative.
What is curious to me is the actual makeup of a Bensen aluminum blade. Chuck has mentioned items of interest about both types. But I have a few questions about how Igor designed the aluminum versions.
The aluminum blade is composed of an aluminum spar that has been milled for the leading edge of the airfoil and to a certain depth of the chord of the blade, the rest aft of that point was aluminum sheet. The one I paid attention to most had rounded rivet heads in a neat line down the blade at the intersection of the sheet metal and the solid spar.
1. Were there two versions of the coupling of the sheet metal to the spar? Round head vs. Flush rivets?
2. Did the rivets go all the way through the milled spar to couple the sheet metal to the spar?
3. Was 6061-T6 aluminum used as the material for the blade spar?
Back in the late 80's I read that Ken Brock used a similar spar, but a different method of applying the skins.
4. Did Ken Brock use bonding rather than rivets and did I remember correctly that he used a wrap around skin?
Chuck also mentioned that the sheet metal was in sections on the Igor Bensen blade, but I did not pay attention well enough to actually see what he meant, but I get what he said that it acted as an air pump.
Thanks in advance..
Curtis Scholl