If these skins get dents on top (not creases) about four or five inches in diameter and can be pushed back out from the inside, will that be a potential hazard? I'm sure that sounds pretty "duh", but I know nothing about airplane design.
Post some pictures if possible ? Typically when you get big dents in the D-cells they can't simply be pushed out. Often damage such as this is fixed by wrapping the damaged section of the skin with an overlying doubler. Of course a corresponding doubler is added to the other wing to make it look symmetrical. I know of many planes that have had "minor" D-cell damage covered this way.
Potential Hazard ? well anything is possible I suppose ? I'd say as long as the spar isn't buckled and ribs aren't fallen-broken-disturbed you would simply be making a "cosmetic" repair.
You don't have to be a designer to see that Ultraflight advised the " skin doubler" method to strengthen wings with .016 and .020 skins. This same method was used by many on a smaller scale to cover dents and light damage. Once done it all blends together and looks fine. This is especially true for a plane with painted D-cells.
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That's a good solution. I remember that Ultrflight said not to run engines larger than the Pioneers with the thin skin. The only difficulty I foresee is forming the pieces due to the fact that the dents are very near the tip where the D-cell is thin and has a very tight curve in it, but this may look harder than it will be.
I'm in the process of evaluating the damages to the entire plane before I decide what I'm gonna do, but so far it looks as though I might come out pretty light. It's amazinng just how tuff the Lazair is.
You bet. I'm going over to bring the wings back to the house this Sat. and take them down to a point that I can survey what unseen damage ther may be. I've already disassembled the fuselage (except stabilizers and ruddervators, they weren't invoved in the air show aftermath), but I can take shots of the bent pieces.
i'm not interested in this one, but its only about 6 hours away from where I live. if someone wants to buy it, i can go and get it and hold on to it indefinitely, or even completely disassemble it and ship it to someone.
it'll cost you a case of beer and whatever gas I put in my guzzler for the trip
Tyler
(this plane is in Alberta right near the montana border, I'm in edmonton)