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What is the advantage of an I beam wing?

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Andrew Tinsley:
Hello all,
  From experience, there is a lot of extra work involved in constructing an I beam wing. Unless it is covered in something like my usual silk over mylar and dope, the structure seems to be very floppy. I have seen a couple of I beamers covered in *cote and they were very flexible! Apart from perhaps some weight saving over conventional construction (D tube etc), are there other advantages that I have missed?

Regards,

Andrew.

rustler:
From what I've gathered,- you've about got it summed up. SN had a great series on I-Beamers by Fred Carnes.
My opinion - the build depends on what you enjoy! If you love building, it's great. If you much prefer flying, not so great  y1

Andrew Tinsley:
Hi Ty,
  I found the build to be quite a slow process compared with a conventional wing. But that's probably because I wasn't too familiar with the construction method. Your point about it being self jigging is one that I completely missed and is a fair point. I am not sure if I feel up to doing it again. I would imagine that even a minor impact with terra firma, would result in major damage compared with a conventional build. However we are not supposed to crash.................er, I mean have a heavy landing with our toy planes! 

Regards,

Andrew.

john e. holliday:
Yeah the building of I-Beamers can get boring when cutting ribs.   But, the fuselage is the first structure that is built and must be built square and true.   The spars must be also be built square and true.  Same for the leading edge and trailing edge.  The tip plates, which usually are the tip rib mus match the fuselage Spar, TE and LE holes.   A good cutting jig helps with the ribs.  Building the stagger wing I cut over a hundred ribs and still had to cut more.  Have to laminate ribs at the fuselage juncture.  As stated each riblet I will call it, has to be trimmed at trailing edge to fit the location.  Do top or bottom depending on design, when done flip over and check alignment.  Put the rest of the riblets on to completion.   Half ribs are a blast and add to more cutting, but with less material.  I myself have one design that I flew several years ago that would have been better as an I-Beamer than what the designer showed.  Right now I have a project to get started on and hope I can do it justice.   H^^ H^^

RC Storick:
See my 11 day Ares here on SH. I beam is the easyest wing to build and in perfict alignment. Thats 11 days from first piece of wood cut to in the air and it aint no slouch airplane.

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