TIMBER FOR AIRCRAFT

Greymouth Evening Star, 19 September 1940, Page 2

TIMBER FOR AIRCRAFT

AUSTRALIAN OFFICIAL TESTS SYDNEY, July 16. The construction of two-engined trainer aircraft of Australian timber instead of scarce non-ferrous metals is to be investigated by the Aircraft Production Commission, following a campaign begun by Sydney timber interests and supported vigorously by the New South Wales Government.. Mr. S. C. Robertson, lecturer m aeronautical engineering at the Sydney Technical College, recalled that Mr. T. D. J. Leech, now professor of engineering at Auckland University College, had repeatedly advocated the use of Australian timber for aircraft manufacture when he was m Sydney, but the Commonwealth Government Had been unenthusiastic. “Professor Leech put forward a scheme «by which well-known British makes of aircraft could be suitably modified to incorporate Australian timbers instead of metal or imported wood,” said Mr. Robertson. “Certain business firms with whom he was in touch were prepared to undertake this work in co-operation with British companies.” Mr. Robertson said that a British machine which might be adapted for Australian manufacture was the Miles Master, a timber monoplane with a top speed of about 270 miles an hour. It was used as a trainer for pilots for Spitfires and Hurricanes, and its exceptional performance made it useful as a fighter. . The timber, which it is suggested should replace the rare and expensive imported .spruce is a new “improved wood” developed recently for aircraft construction and which has shown remarkable prospects during tests. Mr. J. M. Gosper, Director of the Timber Development Association of Australia, said that its strength was amazing, and its increase in weight, compared with the same section of ordinary timber, was only 40 per cent. Authorities asserted that it was superior in every way, except one, to any known metal, and its cost was approximately half that of duralumin, and one-quarter that of magnesium all °y- . . ~ “The only deficiency m this improved wood,” said Mr. Gosper, “is its tensile strength, which is 20 per cent, below that of high tensile steels Since Germany has gone ahead with the manufacture of similar material, it may be advisable for Australian aeronautical experts to give it full consideration.” Mr. Gosper said that “improved wood” consisted of a reasonably porous timber impregnated with a plastic. The most common plastic was bakelite. The veneer of timber was prepared and saturated in basins of (molten plastic. It was steam-heated, and when compressed was as homogeneous as steel. The Minister for Forests, Mr. Vincent, said that tests of Australian woods had shown that a scrub timber available in large quantities in New South Wales was as good as the importer Sitka spruce. “In Sydney,” Mr. Vincent added, “are many woodworking factories equipped with the most up-to-date machinery. If a suitable design for a timber aircraft was available these factories could readily convert their J machines and their organisations. These factories could produce large numbers of aircraft a year.” Mr. Vincent said that the timber aircraft was ideal for mass production. Timber did not require installai tion of expensive workshop machines, I tools, and other equipment necessary ■in building metal planes. Personnel for making wooden aircraft could be readily acquired. Australia had not made metal articles extensively, particularly complex fittings such as airframes, and many of the special steels and non-ferrous metal required were not available here in large quantities. .