UV protection

[hihosland]

Greetings flying folk,

 

On a site devoted to trikes I noticed a recommendation that their aircraft with their Dacron sails be kept in a darkened hangar to prevent UV degradation.

 

My aircraft is kept in a hangar with skylights. Which means that the aircraft is protected from direct sunlight but there is visible light inside during all daylight hours.

 

My question is, should the skylights be obscured, shaded, or completely blacked out??

 

any and all advice greatly appreciated.

 

David Hill

 

 

[Guest ozzie]

I had ths problem with skylights in the roof and the sunlight fell on the tail in the afternoon. it started to affect the mylar covering on the tail. i could not cover the skylights so just made up some covers for the tail that did the trick.

 

 

[Tracktop]

It may depend on the skylight material used in your hanger

 

Just copied the following from the Laserlight web site

 

Others brands may be similar properties but I have used this product in the past so knew it had some UV protection - I haven't used it for hanger skylights though

 

eg

 

Laserlite® 2000 is light weight, durable, 99.9% UV protected

 

A co-extruded UV barrier protects you from harmful UV radiation and the product from UV degradation and yellowing.

 

 

[Guest Maj Millard]

Ozzie, I can't recall which was which but I think they used Mylar first and then went to Tedlar for the lazair. Tedlar was a product that was used exclusivly for covering greenhouses. (3M) It was engineered for exterior uses, and prolonged exposure to direct sunlight as I recall.......they may well have more advanced products out there now................................................................

 

:rilla:

 

 

[Guest ozzie]

The Tedlar used for the later Lazairs is really hard to find dupont will not supply it to recover. some pops up occasionally. i don't like the milky look of it and preferr the original clear mylar even though it is not supposed to last as long. mylar is far easier to buy and costs about a third of a tedlar recover job. the search for a modern alternative has been on for a while. Dale Kramer has come up with Duralar it's clear and UV strong another is a white material called boat wrap. a demonstration of it being used showed no need for tapes. shame it only comes in white.

 

but back to topic i think that even if you keep your bird in a hanger i'd have some light covers made up for it. bird poop and such.

 

 

[Guest Maj Millard]

Bloody bird poop, you'd think they would have some respect !!!......................