Original Posted By: HelsperSew(at)aol.com
I asked my friend Jeff Scott (A&P, builder/pilot of several homebuilts includingfabric, EAA Tech Counselor) about the use of 1.7 oz. fabric. Indeed, Ceconitehad (or has) a product that they call "Ceconite Light", which they say is "a1.7 oz. fabric designed for ultralights, gliders, and certified light aircraftwith a wing loading of less than 9 pounds per square foot. It can usuallybe used on light planes with engines less than 85 HP. Do not use on aircraftwith high wing loadings or big engines. Meets TSO C-14b" (from the Ceconite manual;I've sent Matt the .pdf scan of this page from the Ceconite manual foruploading to the Piet list file share).I assume that the PolyFiber (Stits) 1.7 oz. fabric is similar to, if not identicalto, the Ceconite material.The specs for the Pietenpol Air Camper are for a gross weight of 1,081 lbs., wingarea of 140 s.f., and of course most are powered with 85 HP or smaller engines.The specified wing loading works out to less than 8 lbs./s.f. The wingloading has to do with how stressed the fabric covering on the wings will be,and I assume that the recommended max horsepower has to do with how much torsionalstrength the fuselage needs to have as well as how much it will see in theway of slipstream and prop wash buffeting, but that's just a guess. You can use heavier fabric but I don't believe it's necessary.Oscar ZunigaAir Camper NX41CCSan Antonio, TXmailto: taildrags(at)hotmail.comwebsite at http://www.flysquirrel.net________________________________________________________________________________