Aeroplane construction

by Sydney Camm

Aluminium.

The present use of aluminium is restricted to the cowling of the engine, and occasionally as a body covering. Although it is light in weight, its extremely low strength values render it of very little use for other purposes. It attained some measure of popularity in the early days of aviation, particularly for the manufacture of different strut-sockets, which were cast from aluminium; but the general bulkiness of the fittings, in addition to the fact that it was generally necessary to incorporate a steel lug to form the wire anchorage, caused it to gradually fall into disuse. The tendency of aluminium to flake and corrode, which is intensified by the action of salt water, also limits its use for seaplane construction. Many attempts have been made through various alloys to impart greater strength to the material, and although progress has resulted, the characteristics of most of the products are unreliable.