Oratex Fabric Covering Revisited

[rogerh12]

Here is what an air-frame mechanic, with decades and decades of experience told me: Don't put anything on your plane that has not already been on planes at least 20 years. That advise was free, but worth big bucks (hear about the water born covering system tried on Ag-cats? Lasted 2-years, then required 100% recover). Roger

[Flybyjim]

Do you have a site I can visit about the agcat covering, would like to investigate the issue.

[rogerh12]

Flybyjim:
The Ag-cat story didn't come from the internet (surprise! ), it came from an actual mechanic standing in front of me. To be exact, he was buying my cassutt kit ( Reno air racer) a couple years back. He did the work on the Ag-cat himself. He said, even sitting outside, exposed to chemicals, oil and pesticides on a regular bases, the old solvent based process (Stits ?) will produce a finish that will last a solid 20 years.
Roger

[Esser]

Here is what an air-frame mechanic, with decades and decades of experience told me: Don't put anything on your plane that has not already been on planes at least 20 years. r

While I know what the guy was getting at, I think this is one reason the aviation is held back. Attitudes like this are why we are just starting to get EFI 30 years later. There have been a lot of good start-ups that went bankrupt because everyone was waiting for the next guy.

[HighWing]

Here is what an air-frame mechanic, with decades and decades of experience told me: [I]Don't put anything on your plane that has not already been on planes at least 20 years. Roger

I think I have to go with Roger and his friend on this one.

I checked the Oratex site and the preliminaries pretty much turned me off.

I didn't count the number of times "toxic" was mentioned, but it was a bunch. For an amateur builder who will cover one or maybe three airplanes in his lifetime, in my opinion, "toxic" is not an issue. I remember many times in the past where Polyfiber and its MEK based adhesive was panned with words like "extremely hazardous" and "carcinogenic". Check the MSDS. It is pretty benign unless you cover in a closed room or decide to see what it tastes like.

Then they talk about the "ten or more coats is common and 20 is not unheard of" and the time to apply as a big negative. I might have had ten coats on my first airplane, but I had a very complex color scheme that accounted for the last four coats. If you want a color scheme or a fine finish using Oratex you will have to paint it as well, though if you are OK with a single color on each panel - no paint required.

Check out the photo galleries. the fabric seems sort of transparent. Then the Problems with other fabrics gallery. I have seen this type of problem, but it has usually been after using one system for cover and then using an incompatible top coat system. I saw this a lot at a Rans fly-in where they used auto paint over Polyfiber.

In twenty years, I might change my mind.

[jrevens]

I tend to be very cautious of the latest & greatest too. Being pretty old-fashioned, I really like "steam gauges" & the look of round dials, especially on something like a Kitfox. I'm gonna get a color tv someday also... when they perfect them.

The Oratex is not translucent. It's opaque, very tough, & light. They make color-matching paint, trim material, etc. The glue seems to be similar to Stewart System's, which is really nice. It's a pretty slick idea, & ideally I'd like more "history" also before committing. Esser's got a good point, & technology's advance would be pretty slow if nobody jumped in on the ground floor.

[jamesmil]

saw this covering system on line and was intrigued by the simplicity, sure does cut out a lot of work and need to build a paint booth in the shop. also will save a lot of weight. also I under stand that rans will offer it in the rans 6es kit that uses per finished envelopes. all that being said I think I would give a good look if I were going to cover another airplane and was looking to save time and weight. just my 2 ct.

[Denali]

I think what will be interesting is to see if many of the manufacturers like Just, Rans, Kitfox, Backcountry Super cubs, etc begin to use it. The weight and application time savings are considerable.

This will be something to ask at Oshkosh 2014.

[dholly]

I was unable to get a firm price on materials to recover an Avid/Kitfox size from the manufacturer or US distributor at OSH last year, as they did not have an appropriate plane-specific materials list figured at that time. All I got was "subject to exchange rates" and "approximately 20% less materials cost than competitors".

The attached 2011 Poly Fiber materials and price list says an Avid/Kitfox covering kit cost $2,470 suggesting the Oratex covering cost should come in ~$1,976. Very curious just how accurate that figure might be.

Has anyone even got definitive info regarding a materials list and total cost for a Kitfox yet or, better yet, actually purchased the product?

Thanks.

[txskybolt]

Reading their website, believe they say the fabric is more expensive but in the long run, it will be less counting not having to buy equipment, chemicals, etc. The polyfiber quote is minus paint. The new covering is paint free (but can be painted). If I were covering a light, slow aircraft, I'd seriously consider using their product. You could dress it up with decals.