Thread: aircraft quality spruce

There was an article in a recent Australian Woodworker about some people who were making a replica of the Wright Flyer (I think that was the plane).

Anyway, they imported their spruce from Canada or the US.

From memory, it cost them an arm and a leg. :eek:

thats the problem my freinds having everything is easily available in the us but postage is a killer

Originally Posted by holmsy2000

probably not really the sort of wood you guys use much but i was wondering if on your travels anyone has seen a supplier of aircraft grade spruce. a freind is thinking of building himself a plane

Contact Robert Dunlop in Brisbane --- he had a contract supported by Boeing to build the timber work for a replica of (I think) the Southern Cross or some other famous plane (he had previously built a similar plane for the Bi-centenary) but after he had bought in the Spruce but before starting construction along came Sept 11, 2001 and Boeing pulled the contract and left him with the lot. I know it was in his shed about 18 months ago because I saw it.

I'm not sure if he has his own website, but here is a link:
http://www.infolink.com.au/view_comp...companyid=6797

Good luck.

Qw

Ellis Walker of Perfectus Airscrew Pty Ltd is still selling certified aircraft grade spruce in Melbourne Ph 93912076. His timber is superb and he can usually fill requirments from stock with CASA release notes. If your friend is not in a hurry it may be cheaper to import it from North America, if he can find some container space to share. It may be worth contacting the Sport Aircraft Assoc of Australia, or aircraft kit manufacturers in the states to find out who might be importing some kits to Australia. the dimesioned timber for a whole aircraft wont take up much room and aluminum aircarft parts are just as easily damaged as timber so one would have a good chance they will pack the timber carefully.

extremely difficult to get a hold of this stuff and when you do find a stockist you have to move very quickly as it just flies off the shelf .
beejay

Surely we have suitable timber in Australia that can be aircraft certified by an industry engineer ? After all, the coachwood was stripped out of the Nightcap Ranges during WWII to make Mosquito bombers. Maybe you should have a look at clear hoop pine. Unless there it somthing magic about spruce that I haven't heard.

Originally Posted by craigb

There was an article in a recent Australian Woodworker about some people who were making a replica of the Wright Flyer (I think that was the plane).

Anyway, they imported their spruce from Canada or the US.

From memory, it cost them an arm and a leg. :eek:

I went to have a look at it being built in a hangar on the airfield in Narromine. Two blokes, a H&F thicknesser, a Ryobi 10" bandsaw and some hand tools. An incredible job, seeing as how it has to pass DCA certification before they will let it fly. It's due to fly on 13th March and there's a rumour that Buzz Aldrin is coming out to officiate.
Cheers,
Graeme

Originally Posted by holmsy2000

probably not really the sort of wood you guys use much but i was wondering if on your travels anyone has seen a supplier of aircraft grade spruce. a freind is thinking of building himself a plane

I was told by an old boat builder here that silver wattle from Tassie was used a lot in aircraft frames in the 20s as it wouldnt shatter and had good bending qualities......all the propellers were laminated from silver wattle as well so there is another one to look into.........

Reguards Tasman

thanks for the info guys i've passed it on, ill let you know what happens in the future and if he builds it i'll post some pictures

Originally Posted by Len McCarthy

Surely we have suitable timber in Australia that can be aircraft certified by an industry engineer ? After all, the coachwood was stripped out of the Nightcap Ranges during WWII to make Mosquito bombers. Maybe you should have a look at clear hoop pine. Unless there it somthing magic about spruce that I haven't heard.

Yeah Hoop Pine is next best to Sitka Spruce. It's a weight to strength ratio that's Sitka's magic. Hoop is a little stronger but heavier. Both are beautiful timbers to work. Weight being a critical attribute for flying machines. Especially little single seater ones.

I am currently looking for a local supplier of either Sitka Spruce or Hoop Pine (for different parts of the structure) for my aeroplane I'm building. Not having any immediate success either I can tell you.

Vic

if someone can look in the timber book (i think its spelt) bootle you should find most of the araucaria family has most of the same properties as the spruce and more easily sourced .the mills in Qld could supply it and should be able to class it for use in air craft