Oratex Fabric Covering Revisited

[jsteere]

I talked on the phone with a fella' named Roger Peterson in Sweeney, Texas who's covered several Super Cubs with Oratex. He loves it...

OH OH! Someone must have really screwed up! Apparently the judges at Oshkosh didn't get the memo saying "Paint can cover a "multitude of sins", & if you're looking for an Oshkosh award-winning look, you probably want to paint." The very first aircraft to attend Oshkosh (2012,) covered with Oratex UL 600, won the Ultralight Reserve Grand Champion award.
No paint was required. The fabric is great, and I would absolutely use it again. Let me know if you have any questions. John
Additional info here - http://cluttonfred.info/post/2820954...s#.U30RyeNOWbE Interview video here - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cw-WRTf9LqY

[Av8r3400]

I know that plane very well from Airventure '12.

The covering was definitely a factor in why it got the Lindy. Innovation in products and usage is something closely looked at. It looked very nice.

If I wasn't already committed to poly fiber on my project, I might give it a look...

[cap01]

for the last project I got the toko t8 . I figured for 60 dollars I'd try it out . the thing worked fantastic , wish I would have popped for the t14

[jrevens]

Hi John,

I remember your plane at OSH. It was beautiful! I tried to locate & check out every Oratex covered ship that I could at Oshkosh the last couple of years. I certainly didn't mean to lump every user of a certain product in one basket. You're absolutely right - I misspoke about an "Oshkosh award winning look" and I do apologize! I was actually paraphrasing an opinion that was expressed to me by a major kit-built manufacturer. I have seen some terrible looking Oratex jobs, as well as Ceconite or PolyFiber ones, & frankly paint CAN help to hide a lot from the casual observer. But there is no reason that an aircraft covered with Oratex can't potentially be an award winner anyplace. I like what I see with it, I like it's properties & strength, and that is why I decided to make the substantial financial investment to cover my project with it, when I already had most everything to do a PolyFiber job. I hope I can do half as good as you did!

OH OH! Someone must have really screwed up! Apparently the judges at Oshkosh didn't get the memo saying "Paint can cover a "multitude of sins", & if you're looking for an Oshkosh award-winning look, you probably want to paint." The very first aircraft to attend Oshkosh (2012,) covered with Oratex UL 600, won the Ultralight Reserve Grand Champion award.
No paint was required. The fabric is great, and I would absolutely use it again. Let me know if you have any questions. John
Additional info here - http://cluttonfred.info/post/2820954...s#.U30RyeNOWbE Interview video here - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cw-WRTf9LqY

[bushfly]

John it's Bushfly or Ed Hensel in WI. I will be covering my SS in two months. I considered Oratex but it is hard to justify dropping over $6,000 when I can use Stewart System and fabric that came with the kit for far less.

[jrevens]

Hey Ed,

Thanks! Man, you look like my cousin.

I understand completely. There was a lot of soul-searching before I dove in.

Good luck with your covering!

[Esser]

John it's Bushfly or Ed Hensel in WI...

Is that the going rate for a kitfox sized plane?

[jrevens]

By the time you figure all the finish tapes, glue, etc.... yep.

[Esser]

So roughly double. Well that's probably a good price for the weight saving but I have my polyfibre stuff. Maybe John should look into it as an option for future kits. Carbon fibre and oratex, you might squeak one under 700lbs if you were stingy on weight everywhere else

[HighWing]

I am curious beyond curious. I am aware that any covering system is a significant part of the empty weight of any airplane. I recall during the Arab Oil Embargo, US airlines removing paint from the airplanes as a fuel saving mearure. And I am aware that LIght has significant benefit beyone GPH.

But, Does anyone have any idea roughly or exactly, how much weight saving is to be had using the Oratex system?