They had to stop building plywood planes. The water would leak in and delaminate the plywood. It is what allowed the wing to break off of Newt Rockne’s plane.
Early Chevrolet cars and trucks mounted sheet metal onto wooden frames. The screws rusted and the wood rotted. Old ones sounded like opening Fibber Magee’s closet when running.
Well, actually, the Spruce Goose was made of laminated birch. Spruce was often used in constructing aircraft, but not that one. It was designed during WWII to meet a military need, but by the time it was finished the war was over and it was no longer needed. Postwar aircraft development went in a different direction (jets).
Howard Hughes flew it on one test flight, piloting it himself, then put it in storage. It remained the world’s largest airplane until the Scaled Composites Stratolaunch first flew on April 13, 2019. It is still in good condition and on display at the Evergreen Aviation & Space Museum in McMinnville, Oregon, United States.
PoodleGroomer over 5 years ago
They had to stop building plywood planes. The water would leak in and delaminate the plywood. It is what allowed the wing to break off of Newt Rockne’s plane.
some idiot from R'lyeh Premium Member over 5 years ago
In case anyone was wondering:
“Note from Missy: Where do you think the dead link at the bottom of the comic led to, lo these long 8 years ago?
Note from Scott: I’ve wracked my brains, and I have no idea."
Ray*C over 5 years ago
He went on to build the world’s biggest ego. Until recently. Now there are several who can claim the prize.
PoodleGroomer over 5 years ago
The world’s largest spruce plywood bus. With 8 engines.
PoodleGroomer over 5 years ago
Early Chevrolet cars and trucks mounted sheet metal onto wooden frames. The screws rusted and the wood rotted. Old ones sounded like opening Fibber Magee’s closet when running.
CougarAllen over 5 years ago
Well, actually, the Spruce Goose was made of laminated birch. Spruce was often used in constructing aircraft, but not that one. It was designed during WWII to meet a military need, but by the time it was finished the war was over and it was no longer needed. Postwar aircraft development went in a different direction (jets).
Howard Hughes flew it on one test flight, piloting it himself, then put it in storage. It remained the world’s largest airplane until the Scaled Composites Stratolaunch first flew on April 13, 2019. It is still in good condition and on display at the Evergreen Aviation & Space Museum in McMinnville, Oregon, United States.
Isn’t that special?