Date:         Tue, 4 Oct 2005 21:03:27 -0400
Reply-To:     Shawn Luft <shawnagan@SYMPATICO.CA>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         Shawn Luft <shawnagan@SYMPATICO.CA>
Subject:      Re: Rebuilding westy cabinets in fine wood
Comments: To: Doug in Calif <vanagon@astound.net>
In-Reply-To:  <000801c5c943$0766b310$0202a8c0@ibmthkpdt23def>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii"

> I believe aircraft, at least commercial, use an aluminum honeycomb
> substructure that is skined or covered with non flamable.
>Pretty much the lightest strongest panel next to doing the same thing with
>a carbon fiber skin.

Well in our aircraft we only use the aluminum honeycomb in fire-sensitive
areas and structural areas(ie the galley, fax machine cabinets, base of
cabinetry to attach to floor, etc)

For general use it is mostly a fiberglas honeycomb, which is similar to the
above mentioned, although it's considerably lighter and easier to work with.
All the cabinet use this as a base, then get veneered afterwards.

Carbon panels are use too, but mostly for floorboards.  They get installed
very much the same as the vanagon floorboards.  I assume they are used b/c
of their structural properties and also their resistance to fire, but I'd
have to check that since I work mostly with the above mentioned composites.

I assume commercial aircraft would be the same type of materials as the top
end business jets, considering one of the major ways to cost savings of A/C
operation these days is to reduce the weight, (les weight, less gas, etc)
...therefore the fiberglass could be used more often than an aluminum based
honeycomb.

By the way, here is a link to the inside of a Global Express for those
interested... check the veneered cabinetry...
http://www.raininair.com/interior_1.htm
http://www.raininair.com/interior_2.htm
http://www.raininair.com/interior_3.htm


Cheers,
Shawn