Concrete Glider

[Velius]

For those that watch Mythbusters, there was an episode (episode 66) where they experimented in making a concrete glider. Unfortunatley I don't have cable so I couldn't see this

When I searched online to find a video clip (which BTW I had no luck in) I happened to stumble upon a page that says:

"Also, an expert noted that making a glider out of concrete is possible and that the Germans experimented with the idea during World War II." (MythBusters Episode 66: "Concrete Glider")

I tried finding evidence or documentation of such experiments and couldn't find anything. Can anyone help me out here?
Thanks!

[Velius]

<crickets chirp>

Wow- nothing I guess this thread is dead

[Thorlifter]

I don't know of one and me doing a search for 1 minute couldn't find anything. However, the results of the mythbuster's experiment was it was plausible, but very dangerous. Adam's glider flew for 34 feet but Jamie's took a nose dive.

[ccheese]

If concrete ships can float, why can't concrete gliders fly ?

I missed that episode, too. But I did see the one about the
lead balloon.

Charles

[Velius]

I did a small search myself and didn't find anything. I wonder where mythbusters got that peice of info?

[red admiral]

Blohm & Voss BV 246 Glide Bomb Luft '46 Entry

That would be this, the Blohm and Voss 246 glide bomb. Steel reinforced concrete was used because it was cheap and easy to manufacture. It would glide but is worse off than using wood or say aluminium when regards to weight. Also concrete cracking in weather extremes might be a problem.

[Velius]

So just the wings were made of "Die-cast concrete"?

I wonder what they mean by "Die-Cast"?

[Velius]

Oh, good find BTW, thanks!

[orion549]

It was found a plausible, but I doubt it was ever pursued much past the experimental stage.

And for the record, not only can Concrete gliders fly and Concrete ships float, but also, Concrete cars can drive! One of my favourite pieces of Canadian trivia. Those crazy east-coasters and their concrete cars...

[red admiral]

There are two steel (IIRC) reinforcement bars down the middle of the wing acting as spars. Then the concrete is cast around them by injecting it whilst fluid into the die. The concrete then hardens and is machined to get smoother surface finish.

Theres currently a lot of research into concrete submersibles as concrete has very high compressive strength.

[Graeme]

Unsure if he ever put it into practice, but Louis Breguet had a patent for reinforced concrete wings in 1957...

Aircraft structural elements and especially wings from reinforced concrete - Patent 2776100

[Velius]

I'm getting the impression that the wings are solid. I can't help but think that such wings could crack easily, reinforced or not. I wonder if such an idea was considered for piloted aircraft or just for unmanned gliders?

[red admiral]

The wings are completely solid, made from cast concrete. Its ok for an expendable glide bomber that just needs to fall from the sky in an inexpensive way. For a reusable piloted aircraft, concrete is a really really bad choice.

[Velius]

Originally Posted by red admiral

For a reusable piloted aircraft, concrete is a really really bad choice.

I thought the same.

Thanks for all the info everyone

[Glider]

No way would you get me inside something like that and I don't care what the Maths said.