Craftlab and AvioEBooks aviation technology weekend

[mianapaolo]

Dear all,

I moved to Vienna in October 2009 and this allowed me to get closer to Koloman Mayrhofer and his wonderful job in Craftlab: a “very late production” and restoration company focused on WWI aircraft.
In our weekly meetings we discussed over and over again about what we consider one of the greatest lack of our common passion: if it’s very hard to have the chance to access to the original WW1 aircrafts, it’s almost impossible to properly study them and touch with bare hand the real stuff.
Craftlab amazing collection of Albatross, Bleriot and Fokker wings….. (just see the related thread here) it’s a unique opportunity in this sense: Koloman Mayrhofer will get people to have a closer look to his work , his knowledge and experience.
The same consideration comes about granting an easy access to the original documentation and the reference material: as you know this is the idea that gave me the inspiration to create my AvioEBooks project (for more info see www.avioebooks.com)
In order to offer the chance to everyone willing to learn something new about WWI aircraft technology from the original sources, and have a first hand experience in construction and restoration of such aircrafts, we’ve decided to organize here in Wien an AVIATION TECHNOLOGY WEEKEND!

DRAFT OF THE LIST OF CONTENTS
THEORETICAL SECTION

Introduction

General scope of the course
Peculiarity in aerial warfare over Alps

WWI aircraft developments - headlines

-structure
Wood and wire basic structure: close look to Bleriot
Improvements SVA/Albatross fusoleage
Late war developments: steel - close look to Junkers structures
-engine
Rotary engine: close look to LeRhone 110 Hp
In line engine: close look to Mercedes 160 PS
-propellers
How a propeller was built
Improvements in performances
-aerodynamic acknowledge
Early stage - funny things and mistakes
the acknowledge at the beginning of the war
Fokker wing
Gottingen
-material development
Wood
Steel
Fabric
-how a WWI aircraft was designed: case study Ansaldo SVA
-how a WWI aircraft was built: Case study OEFFAG Albatross D.III

DRATF OF THE LIST OF CONTENTS
PRACTICAL SECTION

-wood
basics
wood selection eight ,grain structure and how it was cut out of the log can be judged
strength and related things

-glue
glues and gluing
legal info on gluing and certification

-metal
introduction into the different materials employed
how modern materials can be used to substitute them

-fabric

-bolts, nails, screws

-accessories

-flight instruments

-restoring technique for a WWI engine: chase study of a LeRhone 110 Hp

As you can see the weekend would be structured with a theoretical part and a practical one. The open discussion on theoretical aspects will aim to give to the attendant a general background of the technology knowledge available in the WWI era and how it has been developed trough wartime. Considering the complexity of the topic and how many aspect have still to be properly discussed, after the weekend meeting we will create a feedback newsletter in order to allow people to ask further questions, raise doubts and share information.
As usual, theory leads to practice and here you’ll have the chance to see work in progress projects like the building of an OEFFAG Albatross airframe or the restoration of a LeRhone original engine!
Koloman and his skilled employees will guide you trough all the “secrets” and allow you to learn from the experience gained during the Craftlab 15 year long journey. You will also have a close look to any detail, to an extent that is unlikely to have in a museum.

So a weekend devoted to all the kind of aviation enthusiasts, from the historician, to the builder of any scale model from 1:144 to 1:1.
So, if you’re willing to have the chance to touch an Albatross airframe and smell some wood flavour, while you got your hands busy, that’s the event for you!

The aviation weekend is planned to be held in late summer/early autumn 2010 in Vienna (Austria) at the Craftlab workshop’s premises – Gatterederstrasse 20 1230
The event would be held in English language but, if necessary, some support in German or Italian can be provided. More specific info about costs, accommodation and so on will follow within 10-15 days

If you’re potentially interested in the event you can find the developments on this thread.
For any question you may have just contact us here or trough paolo.miana(at)gmail.com.

Best regards

Paolo Miana

Koloman Mayrhofer