What materials are used for a aircraft body panel?
There’s a wide variety… Everything including fabric, fiberglass, cotton, carbon fiber, Kevlar, aluminum, stainless steel, titanium, some plastics and wood… The material selection is determined by the engineers involved in the design. Heavier materials such as titanium and Stainless are rarely used due to weight. Some aircraft use the body panels as structure – the skin actually makes the body stronger, sometimes MUCH stronger. Others – it’s simply an aerodynamic covering. Fabrics are typically coated with a dope or other sealant / paint to protect the fabric and ensure that it is air tight. Fiberglass, carbon, and Kevlar have a resin impregnated into the fabric to hold the fibers together (and are often laid over foam to provide support) Aluminum and other metals can either be left bare, treated or painted to protect them from corrosion. Wood – again is typically painted to protect it. Also, many materials – fabric, fiberglass, wood etc.. are UV sensitive so they are often protecte
