Ultraviolet (UV) Protection for your ultralight aircraft!
Ultraviolet protection for your ultralight aircraft!
UltralightNews.com
Another source of information that has proven invaluable is the Canadian Aviation Safety Board, and other government
funded agencies.
In early 1984 an ultralight manufacturer that I deal with indicated that
they had a product that they were trying in the hope of extending fabric
life.
That product was Stits Aerothane A 100 101. In my opinion this product
works, on dacron sail cloth to extend fabric life!
How do I know it works? By the only way I have available to me with my
limited knowledge of these kinds of products. I have tried it! First on one
of my own aircraft. This aircraft is now over 4 years old since coated, and has been left outside unprotected from
the elements for 8 months each year since 1984.
The fabric on this plane has been tested 12 times to date, to 75 lbs using a Maule fabric tester, and at no time has
the tester punctured the Stits coated dacron fabric. This fabric was finally replaced in 1992. While the fabric still
tested good the threads holding the fabric together failed!
Another test that I did was to put 4 pieces of fabric out in the Florida sun on racks. Each piece of fabric was the
same color, from the same bolt of material. Two pieces were covered
in products advertised to prevent UV deterioration. One with Stits A0
100, the last left bare.
The only coating that stood the test of time was the Stits. In less than
six months, (in Florida) the bare fabric, and the two that were coated
in other so called UV barriers tested to less than 25 lbs.
Ultraviolet (UV) Protection for your ultralight aircraft.
